Posted: November 12, 2005

Athletics: South African Lukhwareni Found Guilty Of Doping Charges

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Riel Hauman

JOHANNESBURG -- Azwindini Lukhwareni was found guilty of a drugs offence at a hearing held in Johannesburg on Wednesday, but Athletics South Africa, the sport's governing body, will consider "exceptional circumstances" before the Harmony Athletics Club runner is sentenced.

In a press statement, ASA stated that Lukhwareni, who admitted guilt for taking 19-Norandrosterone, was found guilty by an ASA tribunal. The tribunal, according to the statement, "reserved its decision on the imposition of a sentence pending the outcome of deliberations on exceptional circumstances and mitigation of sentence," a decision that was met with widespread criticism in South African athletics circles.

Linda Ferns, the General Manager of ASA, confirmed that the out-of-competition tests in which three other Harmony AC athletes tested positive --Edward Kgosimang, winner of the Cape Town Marathon on September 11, Merriam Mooki and Maxwell Zungu-- were conducted on 29-September for Zungu and Mooki, and 05-October for Kgosimang.

ASA also announced that the hearing for Kgosimang, which was scheduled to be held after that of Lukhwareni, was postponed until further notice.