Nearly 18 doping cases recorded over a decade while research points to widespread supplement consumption among local athletes.
The local fight against doping is entering a more demanding phase, with government under pressure to translate legislative commitments into stronger enforcement, athlete education and monitoring systems.
Minister of Sport and Arts Jacob Kelebeng has called for improved technical capacity and institutional accountability. He warned that signing international conventions will count for little without meaningful implementation.
Speaking at the opening of the International Convention against Doping in Sport seminar in Gaborone this week, Kelebeng said Botswana’s ratification of the UNESCO convention should be viewed as the beginning of its anti-doping obligations rather than an achievement in itself.
The concern is that athletes seeking marginal improvements in performance may unknowingly expose themselves to substances that threaten both their careers and long-term health.
The minister said protecting the integrity of sport required sustained political commitment, effective institutions and the technical expertise to identify and address violations.
The passing of the Anti-Doping Act of 2025 represents an important step in that direction. But the scale of the challenge is becoming clearer.
Botswana has recorded close to 18 doping cases over the past decade, involving several sporting codes, including athletics, softball, cycling and rugby. Emerging research, however, suggests that the recorded cases may not fully reflect the extent of the problem. A study by University of Kentucky sport and exercise psychology expert Associate Professor Tshepang Tshube found that 60 per cent of Botswana athletes use supplements, raising concerns about the relationship between supplement consumption and doping. The findings point to potential vulnerabilities in how athletes access and use products intended to improve performance. Tshube warned that athletes could purchase supplements from local pharmacies without necessarily understanding their ingredients, exposing themselves to contaminated products or substances prohibited under anti-doping regulations.
The achievements have inspired a new generation of athletes, but the desire to match those performances may also create incentives to seek prohibited competitive advantages.
His research identified a strong correlation between supplement use and athletes who eventually dope. The concern is that athletes seeking marginal improvements in performance may unknowingly expose themselves to substances that threaten both their careers and long-term health. Tshube also warned that failure to confront the problem could see Botswana move towards systemic doping levels comparable to those associated with Kenya and Russia.
The pressure to replicate the country’s growing international sporting success could add to the temptation. The achievements have inspired a new generation of athletes, but the desire to match those performances may also create incentives to seek prohibited competitive advantages. The recent suspensions of two prominent national athletes have added urgency to the campaign.
The three-day seminar, funded by the Estonian government and the Botswana National Commission for UNESCO, provideed an opportunity to examine the country’s obligations under the international convention.
