Magakwe runs himself into the ground

Why would a high profile athlete like Simon Magakwe fail to comply with the International Association of Athletics Federation's rules? Photo by: Anja Niedringhaus/AP

Why would a high profile athlete like Simon Magakwe fail to comply with the International Association of Athletics Federation's rules? Photo by: Anja Niedringhaus/AP

Published Apr 16, 2015

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As the saying goes … where there is smoke, there is fire. And the burning issue in the world of athletics in the country at the moment is why a high profile athlete like Simon Magakwe would fail to comply with the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) rules knowing well of the repercussions thereafter.

It was revealed on Tuesday night that the national 100m record holder has been banned for two years for refusing to submit to an out-of-competition test and also failed to defend himself via an appeal after being given a chance to do so.

At some point, Magakwe, 28, ought to come out in the public and say why he refused to undergo a process he had been part of all his competitive life or people will be left to continue speculating.

Given his achievements thus far and also bearing in mind that he is one of the country’s finest sprinters, one of the talents we all counted on looking at the World Championships in Beijing as well as the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Magakwe owes it to all to give an explanation.

However, an explanation will not solve everything and come the Olympics next year, the nation will be left to wonder about the sprint king’s performance had he been eligible to compete.

Although Athletics South Africa president Aleck Skhosana stressed that Magakwe did not fail a doping test, but rather failed to undergo one, that does not stop anyone from thinking of the possible reasons that could have led to him refusing to give his urine sample.

“It’s not the doping results, let us not mix it. They came to do the testing on him and he didn’t submit. He was not tested and failed, but he was asked to submit and he didn’t submit,” Skhosana was quoted as saying.

Skhosana has distanced himself from speculation, saying it is all up to Magakwe whether or not he wants to talk about his reasons for failing to comply with the rules.

“I cannot comment on speculation. Simon is a well-established athlete and he knows very well what is required of him as an athlete. He has been tested for many years and has never refused to give samples so we don’t know why he refused this time around and it is not up to us to tell you why he did it. We don’t know why he refused; talk to him and he will perhaps give you all the answers. All the athletes know the rules and they know they must respect the officials and submit samples whenever they are requested to do so,” he said.

Skhosana said since the matter reached the IAAF, the verdict is final and that Magakwe will only be allowed to come back after he has served his time.

All this happens days before Magakwe was expected to defend his national 100m title at the SA Athletics Championships to be held next week in Stellenbosch.

Magakwe, who will be 30 after his ban, is the only South African athlete to have run under 10 seconds as he recorded 9.98 seconds time at the SA Championships last year at the University of Pretoria.

It is also alleged that Magakwe has been implicated in a doping case with the global body (IAAF), but the details of the situation are still sketchy. - The Star

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