LETLHOGILE MPUANG
The Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) and Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) are in the process of engaging a renowned South African sports nutritionist Mark Wolf as they look to fight back against the increasing toll of doping cases in local sports. Doping has become a very serious concern for sports in the country as more athletes continue to test positive for banned substances.
Recently, 400 meters runner Lydia Jele was hit with a four year ban after she was found guilty of taking in a banned substance according to the World Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list. A fortnight ago, upon the arrival of Team Botswana from the Youth Olympics in Argentina, Minister of Sports Thapelo Olopeng acknowledged that doping has become a serious thorn in the growth of local sports, and called for more education for athletes with regards to matters related to doping. Last week, a local PR and Communication company, BAUS, hosted Mark Wolf for a lecture on a number of sports health related issues in Gaborone.
BAUS Managing Director (MD) Keitumetse Moletsane revealed after the sessions that they have begun talks with the local sports motherbody, BNSC on engaging the sports nutritionist. “We had Wolf in the country last week, he was here to visit some of his athletes who are mostly marathon runners. We then found it fit to have him for a few lecture sessions on a number of sports health and nutrition issues, which he was more than happy to do,” Moletsane told Gazette Sport.
“After his first session, we had an opportunity to visit the Lekidi football centre, where he shared a few body recovery techniques with some of the coaches who were there. We then proceeded to have meetings with the BNSC and BNOC, who were more than interested to listen to what we had to say. He (Wolf) is very passionate about sports and is more than ready to assist in anyway possible, which will be a good thing for local sports.
“Honestly, the discussions we had with the BNSC and BNOC are still at an initial stage and nothing has been agreed, but we are hoping agree on something. He is also looking forward to coming back, and one of the things he really wants is to work and meet with some of athletes in person and also their coaches and obviously find better ways of how can athletes be assisted,” she carried. Moletsane also went onto reveal that Wolf’s presenations were more centred around encouraging a good healthy lifestyle for athletes as well as fitness and wellness issues.
“His presentation were about health and nutrition. He spoke a lot on how an athlete is suppose to led his/her lifestyle especially what thy eat, which dealt more closely with issues of doping. He said we are a result of what we eat and he further made a comparison of an athlete’s body to a car, not just any car but luxurious and expensive cars. He said the same way we take care of our cars, making sure that it is always fuelled, regularly serviced and in good state, athletes need to do the same with their bodies,” reiterated Moletsane.
In conclusion she said one other key aspect that was covered during the lecture was to do with body recovery. She said Wolf stressed the importance of athletes giving their bodies enough rest as it goes a long way in helping the body recovery and become more rejuvenated.