The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has been honored as the Best African Federation for 2025 by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA). This prestigious recognition underscores Botswana’s increasing influence and prowess in both continental and global athletics.
Individual Honors and Team Achievements
Beyond the federation’s award, the CAA also celebrated individual brilliance. Collen Kebinatshipi was named the best male athlete of the year, while Chilume Chippa Ntshwarang received the Coach of the Year award. These accolades are a direct result of outstanding performances on the international stage.
Botswana’s national team demonstrated remarkable strength at the Tokyo 25 World Athletics Championships, securing a joint fifth-place finish among 198 participating nations. Furthermore, the country ranked second among African nations, trailing only Kenya. Earlier in the year, at the Guangzhou 25 World Athletics Championships, Botswana achieved impressive results, placing seventh globally and second in Africa, behind South Africa.
Association Welcomes Recognition as Motivation
Oabona Theetso, acting president of the BAA, expressed his delight at the CAA’s announcement, calling it “welcome news.” He highlighted that this recognition signifies growth across all facets of the sport – from athletes and coaches to the association itself – especially given the fierce competition within the continent.
Theetso conveyed immense pride in being recognized alongside athletic powerhouses such as South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. He emphasized that the BAA has consistently proven its ability to compete internationally, regularly earning medals at various championships. Looking ahead, Theetso believes this recognition should serve as a powerful motivator for even greater future success, rather than leading to complacency.
Doping Concerns Amidst Success
However, this celebratory news comes with a caveat: concerns regarding a recent increase in doping violations within the sport. Theetso acknowledged that these incidents could unfortunately tarnish the perception of Botswana’s dedicated and clean athletes.
He expressed significant disappointment that the actions of a few individuals could potentially discredit the reputation of the many who compete with integrity. He also warned that such violations could jeopardize the participation of renowned athletes in future global competitions.
According to Theetso, those involved in doping often seek an unfair advantage. Interestingly, he pointed out that no athlete who tested positive in the last three years had actually won medals during that period, suggesting that doping ultimately did not lead to legitimate success.
Ongoing Investigations and Anti-Doping Efforts
The BAA is actively investigating the rising number of doping cases. These investigations are comprehensive, aiming to identify all individuals involved, including athletes, coaches, team members, and even suppliers of banned substances. Theetso assured that severe action would be taken once these investigations are concluded.
He commended the National Anti-Doping Coordinating Office (NADCO) for its effective work in identifying athletes who have used prohibited substances. Theetso stated that detection by NADCO indicates the strength and efficacy of the national anti-doping system, contrasting it with the far greater embarrassment of athletes being caught while competing internationally.
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