Olympic silver medallist Luvo Manyonga breaks his silence after his four-year ban

20 July 2021 - 12:34 By Ofentse Ratsie
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Luvo Manyonga. File photo.
Luvo Manyonga. File photo.
Image: Fredrik Sandberg /TT News Agency via REUTERS

Olympic silver medallist Luvo Manyonga has broken his silence after his four-year ban and the long jumper has issued an apology to his family and South Africans.

His apology came after his ban in June for failing to make himself available for drug testing three times in a 12-month period under the sport's 'whereabouts' criteria.

“From the sincerest part of my heart‚ I want to take this opportunity to apologise to my family‚ supporters‚ followers and every person in this world that believed in Luvo Manyonga‚” he said.

“I am in process of working on myself and fixing my innermost demons. Much love to all #workinprogress.”

Manyonga‚ who won the 2011 under-20 world championships while competing for Maties‚ struggled with addiction to crystal meth‚ which resulted in a ban from athletics for 18 months in 2012.

He beat his addiction in 2015‚ moving to Tuks in Pretoria to begin competing again.

He relocated to Port Elizabeth in 2018‚ though he seemed to have gone off the athletics grid some months ago. Nobody seemed to know where he was.

Manyonga had his best season in 2017‚ shifting the SA record to 8.65m and then lifting the world crown in London.

He failed to defend his title in Doha last year‚ finishing off the podium in fourth place.


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