Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president for administration, Oabona Theetso has refuted claims that some athletes were owed outstanding incentives.
This comes after three members of the 4x400m relay team, Bayapo Ndori, Collen Kebinatshipi and Letsile Tebogo withdrew from Team Botswana, which will take part at the World Athletics Relays this weekend.
Athletes withdrew from the team claiming that they were owed some incentives.
Theetso said athletes were paid their dues adding that World Athletics Relays qualifications were only paid once the World Athletics had officially declared qualified nations.
“There are processes to follow and it doesn’t mean that after running a good time, one qualifies right away,” he said.
He said they had to wait for World Athletics to release the team that had qualified for the 2025 World Athletics Relays to be held at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium in Guangzhou, China.
“And that is only how we can apply for their incentives to paid at Botswana National Sports Commission,” he said.
Theetso said they applied for their incentives on April 30 and May 1 was a holiday, adding that all the paperwork was processed on May 2.
The second claim was that they were not paid the 4×400 metres Africa Record incentives, which they set at the Olympics.
Theetso said the money was paid before the team arrived in the country from the Olympics.
“The money that was credited into their account was P50 000, but the athletes argued that they deserved P100 000 because they set the African Record at the Olympics,” he said
He clarified that as per the incentive policy, they were entitled to the P100 000 only if they had set a new Olympic Record.
Meanwhile, Tebogo released a media statement saying his withdrawal was not a decision taken lightly, nor without due consideration and engagement with relevant stakeholders.
“As stated, a personal decision was made in the best interest of all parties involved and in full alignment with my long-term goals as a professional athlete,” he said.
Furthermore, he said he remained fully committed to the country, the team, and the advancement of athletics in Botswana.
“As always, I remain proud to represent Botswana on the world stage and urge the nation to rally behind the team with the same energy and spirit that defines us as Batswana,” he said.
He therefore apologised to his supporters and stakeholders for missing the opportunity to compete at the World Athletics Relays.
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