Doping ban hits Lesotho star
NTHAKO MAJORO
MASERU – Mokulubete Makatisi’s doping test results are out – they came out positive of a banned substance. The controversial Olympic athlete’s career has in this instance been derailed – she is banned for three years.
Makatisi tested positive for trenbolone. The ban comes after the Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) had already provisionally suspended Makatisi in January this year for the same violation, awaiting the final confirmation of her full suspension.
This publication broke the news of Makatisi’s suspension in February this year, while the local sports authorities remained silent on the matter.
The silence persisted despite anti-doping regulations mandating public disclosure of such suspensions from the outset.
However, this could not remain kept from the public indefinitely, as the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) had to make a public statement this week.
LNOC disclosed that this was pursuant to Article 14.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code read with and or in accordance with 14.1.2 of the Lesotho Anti-Doping Rules.
“The Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) herein called the de facto National Anti-Doping Organasation (NADO) of Lesotho makes a public disclosure guided by the International Standards for Results Management (ISRM) that Mokulubete Makatisi (Marathon Runner) has been suspended for a period of 03 (three) years,” reads the LNOC statement.
“Her period of ineligibility or ban from all sporting competition starts from 10th October 2024 until 11th October 2027 (midnight) for violation of Lesotho National Anti-Doping Rules in accordance with (the) World Anti-Doping Code (2021) for presence of prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers (Trenbolone).”
Trenbolone, LNOC said is a prohibited substance in S1.1 of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) prohibited list of 2024, which it said was found in Makatisi’s sample during an anti-doping test mission conducted in the country in October last year.
“The LNOC remains committed to the promotion of Clean Sport in the country in line with global anti-doping program led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA),” LNOC statement further reads.
Makatisi is not the first Lesotho athletes to be caught doping. Elite athletes such as Mosito Lehata and ’Mamoroallo Tjoka, amongst others, had previously been suspended for doping.
The South African Institute for Drug-free Sport (SAIDS) reported that Lehata tested positive for salbutamol and was charged with attempted tampering with the doping control process.
Lehata admitted to the charges and waived his right to a hearing, entering into a ‘Results Management Agreement’ that resulted in a reduction of his sanction.
His period of ineligibility began on June 9, 2021, and is set to end on June 8, 2026.
On the other hand, Tjoka was initially banned for two years in 2015 after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
However, in 2018, Tjoka received an eight-year suspension from SAIDS for evading a doping test.
Her appeal against the eight-year ban was unsuccessful in 2023, and the suspension was upheld.
