The government of Botswana will reward a Botswana athlete, Isaac Makwala, with $9,705.57 after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) barred him from competing in the 400M in the ongoing World Championships in London, reports ESPN.
Botswana is also contemplating legal action against IAAF for humiliating the athlete. Makwala was forbidden from competing in Monday’s 200m heat and Tuesday’s 400m final after contacting an infectious disease along with other athletes.
“We won’t leave the IAAF (untouched). It’s not an issue of whether he had the virus or not but the IAAF’s approach. How did they come to their conclusion without testing the athlete?” Botswana’s Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Thapelo Olopeng told a media briefing on Wednesday evening.
30 year old Makwala, was quarantined for 48 hours which costed him the races. A protest from the government of Botswana pushed the IAAF to allow him to qualify for the 200 semifinal in a one man on track time trial.
Botswana is still unhappy with the IAAF for blocking Makwala from competing the Tuesday 400m race which was a sure win.
“You can’t pronounce illness without testing the patient. He was told that he had the virus but testing has to be done in order to determine whether he had the virus,” Olopeng said.
