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| Sports |
| Moyo told to give back prize money |
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by
Oris Chimenya, 08 February 2006
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05:25:11
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The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has directed one of Malawi’s star athletes Henry Moyo to return the K1 million (about $8,000) he received in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last year for winning that country’s 42 km marathon after the athlete failed a drug test conducted by the world athletics governing body.
But the Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) has written both the IAAF and the organisers of this year’s event in Malaysia informing them that Moyo cannot manage to give back the money since he already used it and cannot raise that amount again.
Surprisingly, Prednisone, the substance which is said to have been found in Moyo’s blood sample, is not available on the lists of 2005 and 2006 substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
AAM general secretary Haxson Chapasa said although the IAAF says Moyo is guilty, his body recognises that Moyo took medication for his flu which he suffered three weeks before the event.
“Giving back K1 million is a minimum punishment and if he fails to do that, the IAAF says he will not be allowed to defend his title in March.
“The maximum punishment, according to the IAAF, is banning him from any competitive race whether local or international,” he said, further indicating that AAM smells a rat out of the whole issue.
But Chapasa said what was more worrisome is that the IAAF directive cannot be ignored by the organisers of the event.
Asked who will replace Moyo if he fails to reimburse the money, Chapasa said they will consult athletic coaches to identify an athlete who can represent the country since “we have received an open invitation”.
And according to www.druginfonet.com, Prednisone belongs to a large group of similar drugs known as corticosteroids, which among other things reduces severe asthma attacks and suppresses the production of the anti-bodies which attack healthy cells and tissues of the body.
The athlete could not be reached for his comment on Tuesday as his phone was switched off, but Chapasa indicated that the news has shocked the athlete, who is a sergeant with the Malawi Police Service in Zomba.
Moyo was tested soon after completing the race but tested negative. Six months later, the IAAF instituted another test through the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) which has been working on the athlete’s blood sample for over four months. The IAAF sent the results to AAM last week.
During the race, Moyo’s beat over 7,000 athletes from all over the world. His runner-up was Kenya’s John Cheboi while Nsubuja Ugai from Uganda came third. Cheboi received MK574,000 while Ugai got MK287,000.
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