Staff Reporter.
The Board of Athletics South Africa has taken note of the unfortunate turn of events with regards to the four-year ban imposed on our long jump 2016 silver medallist and African champion, Luvo Manyonga by the Athletics Integrity Unit for whereabouts failures.
This decision comes at a time when the national federation was already in the process of sending out a seek-and-find intervention team to see what can be done to save our troubled but talented athlete as was announced by President James Moloi on 3 June 2021 during his first press conference in Johannesburg.
As a disciplined member of World Athletics, we support and remain in solidarity with the outstanding work of the Athletics Integrity Unit which is meant to ensure that all athletes conform to Anti-Doping rules to guarantee fair-play.
“We are totally gutted that the athlete has now been slapped with this suspension,” said James Moloi, the President of ASA. “However, the Board of ASA has decided to follow through on the earlier commitment to send a small team to find out where he is and what can still be done to assist the athlete with whatever he requires to refocus on his career.
“We also want to re-confirm that ASA does not interfere in the work of the Athletics Integrity Unity and strongly condemn athletes who undermine its work, because it is the responsibility of each athlete to conform to Anti-Doping regulations.”
Athletics South Africa will not be commenting further on this matter at this time, but an update on the efforts to reach out to the athlete will be made in due course.