The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) has dismissed claims of unpaid athlete allowances following the shock withdrawal of star sprinters Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Collen Kebinatshipi from the upcoming World Relay Championships in China.
The trio’s absence from the global event, scheduled for May 10–11 in China, fueled speculation about financial disputes linked to their historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Tebogo, Ndori, and Kebinatshipi were instrumental in securing Botswana’s first-ever Olympic silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay, finishing behind Team USA.
BNOC Denies Financial Dispute Claims
In an official statement released on Wednesday, the BNOC refuted rumors that unpaid allowances led to the athletes’ withdrawal.
“The Botswana National Olympic Committee is aware of circulating news regarding national team athletes Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Collen Kebinatshipi’s decision not to compete at the upcoming World Relay Championships,” the statement read.
“Whilst unfortunate, the BNOC wishes to reiterate that all athletes who represented Botswana at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were duly paid their allowances and incentives before the team returned home.”
The committee emphasized that the athletes’ decision was based on personal reasons and not financial grievances. Both the BNOC and the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) confirmed that the withdrawals were made in consultation with the athletes’ management teams.
A Blow to Botswana’s World Relay Campaign
The absence of Tebogo, Ndori, and Kebinatshipi deals a significant setback to Botswana’s hopes at the World Relays, where they triumphed in 2024 to secure their Olympic qualification. Their withdrawal leaves a gap in the squad, though Botswana is still expected to field a competitive team.
Despite the disappointment, the BNOC urged the nation to continue supporting Team Botswana.
“Whilst the current situation is regrettable, we acknowledge the decisions made by the athletes and their entourage. We encourage Batswana to rally behind Team Botswana as they represent us in China,” the statement concluded.
As Botswana prepares for the competition without its star athletes, the focus now shifts to how the remaining squad will perform on the global stage.
