Botswana's Olympic Committee responds to reports of outstanding 2024 Paris allowances
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 08.05.25. | 15:34
National icons like Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Collen Kebinatshipi withdrew from the team, citing personal reasons
The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) has issued a formal statement following reports that top national athletes have opted out of the upcoming World Relay Championships slated for Saturday, 10 to Sunday, 11 in Guangzhou, China.
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National icons like Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Collen Kebinatshipi withdrew from the team, citing personal reasons.
The championships will proceed without the trio, a decision the BNOC described as “unfortunate” but one it respects.
In the statement released on Tuesday, 6 May, the BNOC emphasised that all athletes who formed part of Team Botswana at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games received their allowances and incentives in full before returning home.
“Whilst unfortunate, the BNOC wishes to reiterate the following to the public: All athletes that represented the nation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as part of Team Botswana were duly paid their allowances and incentives before the team arrived home from said Games,” read part of the statement.
Although the reasons behind the athletes’ withdrawal remain unspecified, the BNOC acknowledged their decision and that of their support teams.
The organisation expressed an understanding of the situation and urged the nation to support the team that was competing in China.
“We wish to acknowledge the decisions made by the athletes and their supporting entourage concerning their participation at these Championships.
We further wish to encourage Batswana to continue to rally behind Team Botswana as they represent us in China,” the statement concluded.
The committee also stated that no further comments would be issued regarding the matter at this time.
At the 2025 Wanda Diamond League held on Saturday, 3 May in Shanghai, China, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo settled for third in 10.03 as Akani Simbine clocked 9.82 seconds to win the men’s 100m.
