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SAIDS STATEMENT THE South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) has a responsibility to ensure a clear message is sent to the country about anti-doping.

There is no choice in the matter. Every sporting code, every athlete, is subject to the code and it should, by now, be obvious to everyone that transgressions place individuals, institutions and countries at risk.

Saids performs its work in terms of clear rules. These rules are approved by the World AntiDoping Agency.

Athletes are entitled to hearings, independent and fair, if an adverse finding is returned as a result of a test. If they are unhappy with the outcome of the hearing, they are entitled to an appeal.

In South Africa, we can’t afford reckless commentary that places athletes at risk.

The fight against doping has various aims, including health, fair competition and respect for principles that every sportsperson believes in.

The rules of sport incorporate the anti-doping rules.

Sadly, Saids now faces what are reckless and defamatory allegations by footballer Thandani Ntshumayelo.

These are advanced in letters and printed verbatim in news publications. But none of that is true.

Ntshumayelo told the truth, pleaded guilty, and explained what he took, when and why.

Saids does not engage in public commentary about matters, save to make disclosure as required by the anti-doping rules.

The exception is when athletes make harmful and defamatory comments, causing confusion and so threatening the careers of other athletes.

To set the record straight, the attorneys for Ntshumayelo have not only misrepresented the facts, but have also failed to bring an appeal as required by the rules and law.

By doing so, they have, on their own version, fatally prejudiced him.