SA relay team to be stripped of gold as Thando Dlodlo bust for doping.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Thando Dlodlo has been retrospectively banned for two-and-a-half years after testing positive for “testosterone and its related compounds”, the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) confirmed.

Dlodlo’s name appears on the latest Saids list of banned athletes after they found one of his samples to have the “Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Makers in an Athlete’s Sample“, according to the country’s doping control body website.

Dlodlo’s sample in question was retrieved at the SA National Championships in April last year, months before being part of the South Africa delegation that represented the country at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games.

The 22-year-old Tuks athlete had run the opening leg of the epic World Relays 4x100m final in Silesia, Poland last May, with Gift Leotlela following up in the second 100m, before Clarence Munyai grabbed the baton.

In a remarkable finish, sprint ace Akani Simbine dipped on the line to clinch victory in 38.71 seconds, ahead of Brazil in 38.72.

The South Americans were soon disqualified, though, for a technical infringement, along with third-placed Ghana, which saw Italy claim second spot and Japan third.

Now, with South Africa set to be stripped of their gold medal, Italy should be upgraded to first place, which means Olympic 100m champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs can claim another title.

Japan will then move up to a silver and Denmark a bronze.

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