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SMALL BEGINNINGS: Jeremiah and Refilwe Mamabolo display some of their son Ludwick's medals which he got before he won this year's Comrades Marathon. PHOTO: CHESTER MAKANA

 We hope that everything will be cleared after the final results' 

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"We are shocked at the sudden turn of events but not taking the allegations lightly," said Jeremiah Mamabolo, Ludwick's father.

The school teacher said he did not believe his son could take any drug-related substance.

"But we hope everything will be cleared after the final results have been released."

The runner, according to the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport chief executive Khalid Galant, had tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine. If found guilty by a tribunal, the 35-year-old could be stripped of his title, lose the R300000 prize money and face a sanction ranging from a warning up to a two-year ban from the sport.

Mamabolo has, however, maintained his innocence. He corroborated his father's statement that he had never taken any bannedsubstances.

Said his father yesterday: "My son has been running all these years. If indeed there was something he was using, we could have picked up something suspicious that would convince us that he was using stimulants."

The father said his son was a devoted member of the Zion Christian Church .

He said he spoke to his son shortly after the news of him testing positive emerged and that Ludwick too was shocked.

"Ludwick worked very hard to win the Comrades Marathon this year. He came second in his first race in 2010 and nothing was probed. Now that he had sacrificed his job and trained to win the race there are issues. Could that not be about the fact that he is black?" asked the father angrily.

The runner's coach, Jerry Ramohlale, said Mamabolo did not have a history of taking any banned substances.

"Look at the times he clocked from 2010 until this year, there is no 10 minutes difference. The only substance he needed was three months' unpaid leave to reduce the time he clocked in 2010 to the one he did a year later since it was a downhill. That reduction needed discipline only," said Ramohlale.

Meanwhile, the office of Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale, which had given Ludwick "something" to cover up for the money lost in the three months", said it would only comment after the case against him had been finalised. - frankm@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Thu Jun 20 13:46:49 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 21, 2012

cornelius

Of all the times that the " race card " has been pulled out inapporopriately, this one takes the cake. if he is stripped, the winner will still be a black man - how the heck can race play a role ? Eish.
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Jun 21, 2012

Msiphos00

I wonder what did Cassel Mathale give to this guy
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Jun 21, 2012

malcolm1

when he came 2nd in 2010 why wasn't he tested??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?
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Jun 21, 2012

MommaC

You would think that a school teacher would be less ignorant. No wonder our kids are all illiterate.
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Jun 21, 2012

nwamathebula01

yooh mfana!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jun 21, 2012

sh!tFaceSamsung

Ludwick: here is my advice to u:
whether te next rusults come in favour of u or not: u need to train more for next year to prove that tis yr victory is was not won by fluke
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Jun 21, 2012

Dusc

Everyone gets tested if he used it sorry buy buy next one to a chance Even if you are in a church it doesnt make you a angel go and read the beeld and there comments you will be surprise what people think maybe he was given it on the road mixed with water
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Jun 21, 2012

Decibels

it's those guys on the side of the road who spiked his juice...
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Jun 21, 2012

VENDALIOUS

The father said his son was a devoted member of the Zion Christian Church .............wait a min i think is the tea which those ZCC members drink no wonder those guys can have so many children in their families
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Jun 21, 2012

dennilton1

too much tea, coffee milk and herbs at same time will cause your trophy boet.
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