SOUTH African distance runner Bongmusa Mthembu is not yet celebrating a possible promotion to Comrades Marathon champion.
Mthembu, who finished second in the 89km ultra-marathon in Durban on June 3, will be declared the winner of the race if Ludwick Mamabolo, who has been accused of doping, is stripped of the title.
"I have been told that he [Mamabolo] is making an appeal," Mthembu said yesterday.
"We will wait to see what the second test reveals, but I don't think it's right for me to comment at this stage." Mamabolo tested positive for methylhexaneamine, the SA Institute for Drug Free Sport (Saids) said in a statement on Tuesday.
He was expected to request that his B-sample be tested.
Saids chief executive Kahild Galant said another athlete had tested positive for high testosterone levels.
Mthembu confirmed that none of this year's gold medallists - the top 10 men and women - will receive prize money or medals until the race organisers have obtained the results of their doping tests.
"We have not received anything yet," Mthembu said.
"No money, no medals. We are still waiting for everything."
Mthembu, who is set to earn R145000 for finishing second, will instead receive the R300000 winner's cheque if Mamabolo is disqualified.
Veteran Comrades runner and former winner Fusi Nhlapo, who finished 11th, will earn his 10th gold medal if Mamabolo is stripped of the title.
Mamabolo had denied using a banned substance, according to a report yesterday.
"I didn't take any banned substances," Mamabolo said.
"The stuff that I use is what I have normally used throughout the years I have been running Comrades.
"I am confident that I will be found not guilty."
Galant told Sowetan that it was possible that the substance could have been contained in an energy drink.
"Methylhexaneamine has been one of those ubiquitous substances that some athletes have been testing positive for over the last two years," he said. "It is starting to become [prevalent] in sports supplements and certain energy drinks."
No, Comrades runner-up not celebrating - yet
SOUTH African distance runner Bongmusa Mthembu is not yet celebrating a possible promotion to Comrades Marathon champion.
Mthembu, who finished second in the 89km ultra-marathon in Durban on June 3, will be declared the winner of the race if Ludwick Mamabolo, who has been accused of doping, is stripped of the title.
"I have been told that he [Mamabolo] is making an appeal," Mthembu said yesterday.
"We will wait to see what the second test reveals, but I don't think it's right for me to comment at this stage." Mamabolo tested positive for methylhexaneamine, the SA Institute for Drug Free Sport (Saids) said in a statement on Tuesday.
He was expected to request that his B-sample be tested.
Saids chief executive Kahild Galant said another athlete had tested positive for high testosterone levels.
Mthembu confirmed that none of this year's gold medallists - the top 10 men and women - will receive prize money or medals until the race organisers have obtained the results of their doping tests.
"We have not received anything yet," Mthembu said.
"No money, no medals. We are still waiting for everything."
Mthembu, who is set to earn R145000 for finishing second, will instead receive the R300000 winner's cheque if Mamabolo is disqualified.
Veteran Comrades runner and former winner Fusi Nhlapo, who finished 11th, will earn his 10th gold medal if Mamabolo is stripped of the title.
Mamabolo had denied using a banned substance, according to a report yesterday.
"I didn't take any banned substances," Mamabolo said.
"The stuff that I use is what I have normally used throughout the years I have been running Comrades.
"I am confident that I will be found not guilty."
Galant told Sowetan that it was possible that the substance could have been contained in an energy drink.
"Methylhexaneamine has been one of those ubiquitous substances that some athletes have been testing positive for over the last two years," he said. "It is starting to become [prevalent] in sports supplements and certain energy drinks."
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