For a country with a small athletes population, it is worrying that five elite athletes have been found on the wrong side of the anti-doping rules in the last 13 years.
Other than Amos, former world champion, Amantle Montsho, 400m runner, Lydia Jele, jumper, Tlhalosang Tshireletso, 800m athlete, Onalenna Baloyi have all been deemed to have violated the anti-doping regulations since 2010. This means the anti-doping officials’ roving spotlight will continuously monitor Botswana athletes due to the recent doping violations.
The Africa Region VI Anti-Doping Agency (RADO) in collaboration with local sports bodies, have frequently held workshops for athletes to sensitise them on the dangers of doping.
It is unclear if the message gets through this ear and out through the other in a split of a second or there is something the athletes are missing. What is sad is that the athletes caught on the wrong side of the law are not amateur athletes but professionals.
It means either the anti-doping officials and local sports bodies should re-double their efforts or the athletes should take their careers seriously. Few have returned from a doping ban and be at their best.
There is also the stigma which goes with doping, with such athletes viewed as cheats; unfairly or fairly labelled so. How much will Amos now fetch for his 2012 Olympic medal, which was valued around P4.5million prior to the doping news? The value is expected to plummet as a result of Amos crossing the doping line. I believe the anti-doping rules are fair and the onus is on the athlete to take heed.
An athlete is responsible for what goes into their body and they cannot cry foul at the end when the process does not favour them. Now that Botswana has a truly world class talent in Tebogo, it means there should be more done to ensure the athlete stays on track.
Tebogo, like all other top athletes, will obviously be a target of anti-doping officials and he should stay on the straight and narrow. Tebogo will fly all over the world to compete and in the process interact with foreign managers.
He should ensure that he gets the best guidance under the sun for his career to prosper. Tebogo has the talent to conquer the world without any input from ‘foreign contents’ into his body. Usually the long-arm of the anti-doping law finally catches those who have cheated on the sports field.
The story of Lance Armstrong comes to mind. An athlete thought as squeaky clean revealed that he had for years, cheated through some complex doping. He lost all the respect and was stripped of titles in what was a shameful ending to an illustrious career. Local athletes should shun that perilous path, which brings shame to the name of the country.
