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Ferns: Turn off the drug tap
18/05/2006 21:31 - (SA)
De Jongh Borchardt, Beeld
Pretoria - The Medicines Control Council must turn off the tap through which banned substances flow to South African athletes.
This is the view of Athletics South Africa's CEO Linda Ferns after another top South African marathon runner, Themba Lamane, tested positive for a banned substance.
Lamane tested positive for the anabolic steroid norandrosterone after he came second in the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town earlier this year.
He is the 10th athlete to have tested positive since February 2005. Six of them are road athletes.
Ferns said: "This is very worrying.
"We've been complaining for some time about the large number of road races in which athletes take part weekly for small purses. How do they manage?
"There's also the four Harmony athletes who all named the same pharmacy in Pretoria where they apparently got the banned substances.
"The council must surely do something about it. I haven't been informed that action has been taken against that pharmacy."
Sepeng case still pending
The four athletes, Gladys Lukhwareni, Edward Kgosimang, Merriam Mooki and Maxwell Zungu have all been suspended for two years.
Hezekiel Sepeng tested positive in February last year. His case has not yet been completed.
Harmony athlete Isaiah Nkuna (800m) is serving a life-long suspension after he was found guilty for the second time in December 2005.
The experienced hurdler, Surita Febrraio, tested positive for high testosterone levels last year.
The 19-year-old pole vaulter, Brent Howell of Cape Town, tested positive for dagga in February this year.
The national marathon record holder, Gert Thys, who ran in the colours of Mr Price (as did Sepeng and Lamane), tested positive for norandrosterone in March.
It is unlikely that there is a correlation between these cases as Lamane is affiliated to a club in central Gauteng, Sepeng in North West and Thys at Griquas.
Suspended for two years
Ferns said: "We'll know early next week what's going to happen to Sepeng.
"The IAAF has not accepted Surita's explanation. She didn't want a hearing and has been suspended for two years.
"We've heard meanwhile that she has decided to retire.
"Thys' case will continue soon. He has asked that his B sample be tested in Korea (where he tested positive) and that will be done as soon as his attorneys pay the bill.
"Howell was reprimanded and officially warned."
- Beeld
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