Systemised doping infiltrates SA athletics

Agents, coaches and sponsors are behind scourge

- By Kgomotso Mokoena

Systemised doping is believed to be at play and infiltrating the South African athletics scene after three top runners were banned by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (Saids) this past week for juicing.

The trio of Lebo Phalula-Mzazi, William Kaptein and Nedbank Running Club's top runner Dan Moselakwe were sanctioned for various doping transgressions by Saids this week.

The popular Phalula-Mzazi is mostly remembered for her days as a barefoot runner in Soweto, where she won various races. She also represented SA at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Kaptein won the Two Oceans Half-Marathon (21km) in Cape Town this year, while Moselakwe finished second in the 2024 Comrades Marathon.

Veteran sports administrator Raymond Hack sits in the Court of Arbitration for Sports as an arbitrator for doping. He was in the World Anti-Doping Association for eight years and is also a founding member of Saids.