The World Athletics Championships are merely weeks away. All the top sprinters from the 200 participating nations are gearing up for the highly anticipated event. There are 49 gold medals up for grabs and also a direct ticket to the Stade de France, where the Olympics will be held between 2 and 11 August next year. Every athlete dreams of representing their country in the Olympics but for one athlete from Botswana, that dream has been put on hold.

Botswana had been preparing to give stiff competition to the competing nations in Budapest. However, the proud nation is now facing disappointment as one of its star athletes has now been banned from doping charges. This is the second time that an athlete from Botswana has been involved in such a scandal. This news has tainted the reputation of the country in the track and field world.

Botswana’s track and field team faces a second setback

Last year, an ace sprinter from Botswana admitted to a similar doping charge. Nijel Amos had a banned substance identified as “GW1516” in his body before the World Championships in Oregon. According to the standards set by the Athletics Integrity Unit, Amos should have received a four-year suspension. But, the committee took into consideration that the athlete took responsibility for his actions and reduced the sentence to a three-year ban. Nijel Amos was one of the top contenders from Botswana, having won the silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games. He even matched the third-fastest record in the 800m race. Now, the ace runner is biding his time till 2025, when his suspension ends.

Yesterday, another Botswana athlete tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. A popular Track and Field blogger broke the news on his social media page. The blogger named Track Spice wrote on Twitter, stating, “BOTSWANA ATHLETE FAILS DOPING TEST”. Although the name of the athlete is still kept under wraps, fans have begun speculating about who it could be.

Speculations mount as Botswana Athletics loses another contender

Many fans have reacted to the tweet asking for the identity of the athlete. Both the Botswana Athletics and the World Anti-Doping Agency have been reluctant to reveal the name of the athlete, fueling further curiosity among fans. They are apprehensive that the athlete in question might be fan-favorite Letsile Tebogo. The 20-year-old Botswana legend has instilled hope in his fans with his stellar performances in the African Championships, Diamond League, and World U20 Championships.

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Tebogo is also the third-fastest runner in the world in the 200m sprint. There has been even more confusion as Botswana removed the name of another female runner from their final roster without any explanation. Concerns are arising among fans that the team’s performance in Budapest might suffer without these prominent track and field athletes. But the country is still resolved to make a big impact on the world stage despite its weakened roster.

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