CAPE TOWN, 14 May 2004 — Former Olympic 800 meters silver medalist Hezekiel Sepeng could compete at the Athens Games after being given a second chance by Athletics South Africa (ASA) to meet the qualification requirements.
Sepeng was originally omitted from South Africa’s provisional squad for the Olympics, which begins on Aug. 13, because he failed to meet the selection criteria laid down by ASA.
“The board has also decided to give Hezekiel another chance,” ASA chief executive Banele Sindani said in a statement yesterday.
“The effect of this change of heart on the board’s part is that Hezekiel will have to achieve the IAAF standard (1:46:00) in the period between now and 17 July 2004, in order to book himself a place in the final team to Athens.”
Sepeng, who has the sixth fastest time in the world this year, told Reuters in Johannesburg that he hoped to participate in five races before Athens. “I hope to qualify in the first race in June. I have done it before and I am confident I will do it again,” he said.
Sepeng had vowed to fight the ruling and had instructed his attorneys to take the matter to court but after a meeting with the ASA Board, the athlete changed his approach.
“I received a call from Hezekiel on Monday, in which he took full responsibility for this terrible situation, and exonerated ASA from any blame,” Sindani said.
Sepeng said the row was giving South African athletics bad publicity.
“I didn’t want the matter to drag on for long... so I decided to talk to Sindani, man to man, and tell him straight that what I did was a mistake,” he said.
“For me the big issue is that I am back on the team. That’s what I always wanted”.
Sepeng won silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 1999 world championships.
