Comrades winner could still lose medal
|Published
Durban06052013 Comrades 2012 winner Ludwick Mamabolo finally receives his medals and trophy at Comrades house in Pietermaritzburg after winning his antidope case.Picture:Marilyn Bernard Durban06052013 Comrades 2012 winner Ludwick Mamabolo finally receives his medals and trophy at Comrades house in Pietermaritzburg after winning his antidope case.Picture:Marilyn Bernard
Pietermaritzburg - Last year’s Comrades Marathon winner Ludwick Mamabolo may finally have his winner’s trophy and gold medal, as well as R300 000 which has been transferred to his bank account, but he is not in the clear yet.
While the Limpopo runner received his first place prizes from the Comrades Marathon Association at a small ceremony in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, the chief executive of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, Khalid Galant, said Mamabolo could still be found guilty on appeal.
“Comrades are fulfilling their obligations, but this does not affect our decision-making,” said Galant.
He said the institute was in discussions with its legal team on whether to appeal against an independent tribunal’s finding last week that Mamabolo was “not guilty” of using the banned stimulant Methylhexaneamine.
“We have to look at the merits, we have to look at the decision.”
On Monday night, Athletics South Africa president James Evans said the decision on whether Mamabolo would have to give back his prize money and medal, if found guilty on appeal, would be made by the independent appeals board which would hear the institute’s case.
If the institute does decide to appeal, it is unlikely the outcome will be known before the next Comrades.
On Monday though, the prospect of his title being rescinded did not prevent Mamabolo from grinning broadly as camera flashes lit up his face at the prize handover in Pietermaritzburg, where he took the opportunity to thank all those who supported him in fighting the drug use allegations.
“The truth has come out. I have never taken banned stimulants. I maintained from day one that I am innocent,” said Mamabolo.
“It nearly slipped away from my hands, but I thank God for those who supported me.”
He was especially grateful to his manager Graham Daniel and Werksmans Attorneys – the firm which represented him at the hearings.
The runner went on to say it was “God’s will” he was accused of doping and his vindication would bring South Africans together in supporting each other for this year’s ultra-marathon.
“We shouldn’t point fingers, we need to become one,” he said.
Mamabolo said he held no grudges against those involved in the doping allegations, neither the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport nor the Mr Price Sport running team who dropped him in October.
The focus then turned to this year’s Comrades which, Mamabolo said, he was going to win.
“I will bring the title back home. Bruce Fordyce won 10 times, why can’t I?” he quipped.
He added he had “nothing to prove” during the race. “I will do what I love best, which is running.”
Daniel said Mamabolo had been training since December and was on track for the June 2 race.
“His training has been the same as last year, he has put in the same times and done a bit more distance.”
He said Mamabolo would be running for a club but would not disclose its name or if he had obtained sponsorship for the race.
Comrades chairman Dave Dixon said the delayed declaration of Mamabolo as winner had not affected the preparations for this year’s race at all, and all was on schedule.
The Mercury