In September 2023 the South African Institute for Drugfree Sport (SAIDS) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rower Lebone Mokheseng. SAIDS deemed that the Athlete had 3 Whereabouts Failures within a 12 month period:
- a Missed Test and Filing Failure on 8 June 2023;
- a Missed Test and Filing Failure on 14 June 2023; and
- a Missed Test and Filing Failure on 12 September 2023.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Anti-Doping Tribunal of South Africa.
The Athlete admitted the violation and denied that he acted intentionally. He acknowledged that he had not availed himself of the information about the Registered Testing Pool.
He explained that he struggled with personal circumstances and ultimately had to resign from the Rowing South Africa (RSA). He had troubles with the Whereabouts Information and assisting the sample collection.
He complained that he had received no support from RSA in these matters. Moreover he was under the impression that RSA would have notified SAIDS about his resignation.
In view of the evidence the Panel accepts that the Athlete's violation was not intentional due to his personal circumstances. The Panel deems that the Athlete lacked understanding the procedures and the rules and had not communicated his resignation to SAIDS.
Therefore the Panel decides on 29 January 2024 to impose a reduced 1 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 12 September 2023.
