A meeting organized by the local athletics federation was held on Friday 18 June 2021 at the Msunduzi Athletics Stadium in Pietermaritzburg in the Kwa-Zulku Natal region about 80km north of Durban in South Africa. The goal was the possibility to obtain the qualification for the Olympic Games in fast running middle distance.
On the occasion there was also a walking event over the distance of 10,000m track open to both men and women.
10.000m track walk women
Three athletes at the start.
Victory to Zelda Botha (RSA) in 48:16.57
Second place to Nthatisi Mokhele (RSA) in 1:01:15.91
Third place in Puleng Motsoeneng (RSA) in 1:01:52.86
10.000m track walk men
Lebogang Shange (RSA) returned to compete. We recall that against him was issued on 19.12.2019 for the violation of art. 2.1 of the anti-doping regulations (presence of prohibited substances - Trenbolone, an anabolic steroid).
We don't know much about how the case is resolved, the fact is that the athlete was at the start of his first race on Friday.
In the environment of race walking it is rumored that his suspension is provisionally lifted, as it would seem that the athlete has only participated in a party in which there had been use of prohibited substances.
The last important race in which he had participated was the edition of 8.6.2019 of the Cantones de La Coruna which had finished in 53th position in 1:24:00.
After the Cantones (15.6.2019) Shange had still competed at the PTS Meeting in Samorin where he had participated in a 3.000m track walk completed in 11:14.01
Lebogang Shange (RSA) had no difficulty in securing the victory in 41:08.70 not far from the personal best of 41:02.92 obtained in Canberra (AUS) on 11.1.2016, a sign that the athlete is back competitive.
Second place went to Antonio Farmer (RSA) in 46:28.07
Third place went to Aaron Mahlangu (RSA) in 49:12:34
(Photo and collaboration by Frederic Bianchi-SUI)