Sepeng gets second chance

2004-05-13 10:36

Johannesburg - Olympic silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng may still represent South Africa at this year's Athens Games.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) on Thursday announced that its executive board has decided to review the sanction imposed on Sepeng for failing to adhere to the selection criteria for the Olympics.

The South African 800m record-holder was not included in the provisional team for the Games because he did not compete in two Absa Series meetings in the 800m.

"The board met on Sunday to consider a memorandum from Hezekiel's attorneys. The board got a clear impression from the said memorandum that this matter was headed for the courts", said ASA CEO Banele Sindani.

He added that it was decided that although a court case would present its own challenges for ASA, it was important for them to defend their integrity whatever the cost.

"The Board subsequently took a decision to instruct ASA's attorneys to respond appropriately to the memorandum from Hezekiel's attorneys, and to take whatever steps necessary to defend ASA's integrity.

According to Sindani, things took a different turn when he received a call from Sepeng on Monday, in which the athlete "took full responsibility for this terrible situation, and exonerated ASA from any blame.

"He told me that he regretted having taken the matter to his attorneys, because he had no intention of taking ASA to court. He sounded remorseful and despondent. He apologised profusely, and begged for leniency.

"The call led to a meeting between myself and ASA president Leonard Chuene, Hezekiel and his coach. The meeting took place on Tuesday. In this meeting Hezekiel expressed himself in the same manner as he had done to me in the Monday call," he said.

Gross negligence

Sindani said when they dug deeper into the matter, they came to the conclusion that Sepeng's management support was either ineffective or non-existent and that as a consequence, it was not difficult to see that he did not break the rule wilfully, but did so through gross negligence.

"This position was conveyed to the board, and it was not difficult to exercise leniency.

"In this regard, the board has recommended that the office of ASA should look into the matter of how it could help Hezekiel keep himself up-to-date with developments at ASA, especially those developments which impact directly on the athletes.

"The board has also decided to give Hezekiel another chance. The effect of this change of heart on the board's part is that he will have to achieve the IAAF A Standard (1:45.00) in the period between now and July 17, in order to book himself a place in the Final Team to Athens, in August."

Sepeng was also fined R50 000, suspended for three years, over and above the sanction that he must do 40 (forty) hours of community work in the form of coaching clinics, in any communities of his choice in South Africa. These coaching clinics should be done between October this year, and end of July 2005.

- News24