SHATTERED DREAM WATCH: Botswana Athletics Association to blame for Letsile’s rejected record.

By Mmolotsi Lerobi On Jun 3, 2022

A DREAM DEFERRED:: Letile's record will no longer stand

To watch the video of the day Letsile set the record, click:

Botswana Athletics Association(BAA) say they take full responsibility for the mishap that befell local athletics on Thursday when World Athletics rejected the record set by Botswana’s junior athlete Tebogo Letsile in April.

The world athletics governing body dealt Letsile’s 9.96 100m feat a blow when the fast run was not ratified as a World U20 Record.

Thus the young athlete’s 9.96 second record set in on April 30 at the Gaborone International Meet will no longer be recognized.

The existing Under 20 record of 9.97 seconds was set in 2014 by Trayvon Bromell of USA and for some weeks, the world had waited with bated breath to know if Letsile would take over the accolade.

World Athletics body maintains that there was no zero gun test performed on the timing equipment.

Botswana Athletics Association reacts:

The local governing body of athletics has since released a statement on the matter. It reads:

“This serves to inform your esteemed selves that the World Athletics has taken a decision not to Ratify Letsile Tebogo’s time of 9.96 as a World Under-20 Record, set in the men’s 100m on the 30th of April 2022, during the Gaborone International Meet Continental Bronze Tour. BAA ascertains that despite the outcome of the World Record, the time remains valid as a National Record, Area U20 Record and a qualifier for the Oregon 22 World Championships.

The decision resulted from lack of conducting a zero- gun test during the test of the timing equipment, which is required to confirm the accuracy of timing equipment prior to a race. Nonetheless, the zero test was conducted post the event which World Athletics acknowledged and appraised. Due to submission post the event, World Athletics could not consider the application.

The Botswana Athletics Association bears full responsibility of the outcome.

We highly appreciate your understanding on the matter.”