Luvo continues to be on rehab programme
Olympian on the straight and narrow - manager
Olympic medallist Luvo Manyonga has not relapsed.
This was a declaration by the star long jumper’s handlers after they issued a joint media statement with Athletics SA yesterday that the 26year-old athlete was continuing with his rehabilitation.
“It is a public knowledge that Luvo is a recovering addict but we had to issue a statement because we were concerned that wrong stories might be circulated in and around the rehab centre,” Manyonga’s agent, LeeRoy Newton of Newton Sports Agency, told Sowetan yesterday.
Newton said the decision to make public Manyonga’s ongoing stay at a rehabilitation facility came in the wake of the Rio Olympic silver medallist breaking Khotso Mokoena’s long-standing SA and African long jump record (from 8.50m to 8.62m) last month.
“Very few people knew Luvo before Rio but there is now increased interest in him since then. He was part of a rehabilitation programme before Rio and continues to be in the aftercare programme,” said Newton, who maintained that Manyonga had been on a straight and narrow.
“His finances are in order and we have a complete structure around him that also include legal and medical aspects. We want to make sure that he’s well looked after even when he retires.” Manyonga said: “all was going well” and referred Sowetan to Newton.
SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam was among those who rescued Manyonga’s career from being swallowed by addiction to tik at the athletes’ hometown of Mbekweni township in Paarl, Western Cape.
“We have allowed Lee-Roy to take total control of the future of Luvo. He is doing well and is helping Luvo to focus on what he does best, long jump,” said Sam.