Mboyiya gets two-year ban
Ruling sends a strong message to athletes who take drugs, says BSA
Former SA champion Aphiwe Mboyiya has been banned for two years from boxing.
The 25-year-old boxer from Duncan Village was found guilty of using prohibited substances for his fight against Sibusiso “Spook” Zingange in a catchweight bout Mboyiya won on points at Orient Theatre in East London in April.
Mboyiya – a former featherweight, IBO All-Africa, SA, WBO Africa junior lightweight champ – failed to make the weight limit, forcing the bout to be contested in the catchweight (different weights).
It is alleged that the substance he used was to try and reduce water so that he would make the weight limit.
The ban was effective from May 26 after Mboyiya had been provisionally suspended by the SA Institute for DrugFree Sport (Saids) after testing positive for two prohibited substances.
That was after he had submitted urine samples during in-competition tests after his fight against Zingange.
Saids afforded Mboyiya an opportunity to comment and make presentation on the findings during a hearing in East London last month.
The ruling to ban the boxer was made 10 days later.
“The [disciplinary] committee found that Mboyiya could not prove the source of the prohibited substance to the satisfaction of the panel,” the anti-doping body said.
“It also found that Saids could not prove to the comfortable satisfaction of the panel that Mboyiya took the prohibited substances intentionally, knowing to be in breach of the rules and code.
“Any associated results benefits following his participation in the boxing match on April 30 are disqualified automatically,” it said.
Mboyiya was advised of his right to appeal. Boxing SA (BSA) chief operations officer Cindy Nkomo said: “BSA welcomes the committee’s ruling and hopes that this will send a strong message to others that athletes will be held to account and that action will be taken against anyone found to be in contravention of sporting rules and code of conduct. BSA and Saids remain committed to upholding the applicable rules and laws, and keeping the sport of boxing drug-free.”
Attempts to get a comment from Mboyiya drew a blank yesterday.
‘‘ BSA and Saids committed to upholding the applicable rules and laws