Pascalinah Kabi MASERU — Star athlete, Jobo Khatoane, has pulled out of the London Olympics because of a pelvis injury reducing Lesotho’s participants at the games to four. Khatoane, who sustained the injury in April, was expected to recover and participate in the 42.2-kilometre marathon which begins tomorrow. His dream however went up in smoke after doctors advised him to pull out saying allowing him to compete at the games would seriously aggravate his condition. Team Lesotho chef de mission, Morake Raleaka, said doctors were concerned that allowing Khatoane to compete would aggravate his pelvis injury.

“He was sent to London hoping that his condition would improve,” Raleaka said. “The team doctor, in consultation with a Wales-based imaging radiologist who treated Khatoane, has strongly recommended that the athlete rest and not compete in these Games.”

He said doctors have warned that Khatoane’s participation at the games would expose him to serious pelvis injury. Meanwhile, Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation, Thesele Maseribane, has promised to buy a car for any athlete who will win a medal at the games.

According to reports from London, Maseribane made this promise when he visited the Olympics Village on Monday. “For any athlete who wins a medal in the Olympic Games competitions, I will buy him or her a car from my own pocket as an incentive for winning a medal for the country,”
Maseribane said. The former Lesotho Swimming Association president visited the athletes to inquire about their health and training conditions prior to their individual competitions. He encouraged the athletes to do more in their respective fields if they are to win medals. He said it is the right time to start acknowledging and rewarding athletes who perform well and make the nation proud by collecting a medal. “Imagine, for instance, where an athlete walks or rides a bicycle to the gym,” Maseribane said. “It is about time our athletes are assisted to move from mediocre situations to enjoying the fruits of their efforts,” he said.