Camp reels by news of Mboyiya’s failed dope test
THE camp of boxing champion Aphiwe Mboyiya was stunned after the boxer failed a dope test recently.
Mboyiya, 25, was informed that a urine sample taken from him by SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) officials contained banned substances, furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide.
Both are diuretics, which are commonly abused by sportsmen to regulate body mass and shape muscle profile by increasing water loss. They are also used to treat hypertension and renal problems.
The test was done after his fight against Sibusiso Zingange at Orient Theatre in East London on April 30.
The timing of Mboyiya’s failed dope test could not have come at a worse time when Boxing South Africa (BSA) and the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture are holding a seminar in East London today to educate boxers about, among others, doping
While Saids could not comment on the matter, Mboyiya could face up to a maximum of a four-year ban which would effectively end his career.
The April 30 bout was on the undercard of the SA junior-featherweight title clash between Mdantsane’s Ludumo Lamati and Bongani Mahlangu of Johannesburg.
The Lamati-Mahlangu bout which saw the Mdantsane boxer dethroning the experienced visitor was preceded by pleas from fans for doping officials to be present to test the boxers. violation.
However, it has been Mboyiya who has fallen prey with the banned substance found in his urine sample.
Mboyiya’s handlers, promoter Ayanda Matiti who organised the fight and trainer Kholisile Cengani were still trying to come to terms with the latest debacle.
Cengani, who resurrected Mboyiya’s career when he went off the rails following his loss of the SA featherweight title, said the episode had spoiled all the good work he had done. “I could not sleep when I got the news,” he said.
“I do not even understand this substance found in his system because I do not know anything about doping. But this whole thing is tainting my name because at the end of the day this boy is trained by me.”
After getting wind of the results, Mboyiya allegedly disappeared and switched off his cellphone.
“Yes when I went to look for him at his home he was nowhere to be found,” Cengani confirmed. Asked if the boxer could have used the substance to try to reduce weight, Cengani said: “I wish I knew. But why would he resort to that because he did not succeed to make the weight anyway.”
Matiti was yet to sit down with the boxer to get answers while BSA said it could not comment on the issue as it was between Saids and the athlete.
“We will take a directive from Saids about the next step of action including punitive measures if there are such but as a federation we cannot do anything,” BSA chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka said.