THANDAZA LOSES ABOUT E200 000 SCHOLARSHIP

MBABANE – Athlete Thandaza Zwane’s suspension, after failing anti-doping tests has come with some financial loss.

The Correctional Service athlete was among the beneficiaries of the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Programme where he was benefiting about E200 000 yearly. He lost the scholarship that was to last until next year after his suspension by the Athletics Eswatini (AE). The latest development were confirmed by an impeccable source. The scholarship awarded the athlete with US$12 000, which is equivalent to about E175 000 based on the current foreign exchange, US$5 000 (About E73 000) for air tickets when going to competitions qualifiers and US$4 000 (E58 000) every after four months.

Zwane was among the four athletes who are benefitting from the scholarship and the others are Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa, Phumlile Ndzinisa and Andile Lusenga. Some of the scholarship benefits saw Zwane going with the other athletes to a month camp in Europe as part of the All Africa Games and the coming IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
The Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Programme allows for selected elite athletes to receive financial subsidies to enable them to train with the goal of competing in the Olympics. Subsidies are designed to cover costs for expenses such as specialised coaches, medical treatment and travel costs to qualification events.

Behalf

AE Secretary Thoba Mazibuko said the appropriate organisation to confirm the scholarship issue was the Eswatini Olympics and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) as they are the ones who issued it on behalf of the Olympic Committee. EOCGA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sydney Simelane was reported to be out of the country yesterday while the athlete was barred from making comments to the media over the matter. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs has learnt with regret of the banning of the athlete by the Africa Zone VI Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADA). A statement from Minister Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga said they had already met and instructed the CEO of the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) Darius Dlomo to immediately ensure that more work is done, in conjunction with EOCGA and all sporting associations, to improve doping education and controls in the country.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: