'It feels good to be back' - Mkhwanazi cleared to compete after surviving doping scare

South African road running starlet Bongelani Mkhwanazi is set to make his comeback to the sport after being sidelined for over six months due to doping. Last year, Mkhwanazi tested positive after the banned substance 5-methylnhexan - 2-amine was found in his his urine. According to Mkhwanazi, he bought a locally produced pre-workout product through social media platform Instagram. Despite the company speaking highly of the product after the Black Diamond Athletic Club top runner asked about the product's suitability for elite athletes competing under World Athletics rules, the opposite was true.

The 28-year-old's saving grace was that he had kept the product's details, which allowed The South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) to analyse the supplement and confirm that it was indeed the source of the 5-methylnhexan - 2-amine found in his body. The Durban-based athlete was slapped with a two year doping ban, which he decided to appeal on the basis of misinformation. After pleading his case, Mkhwanazi' sanction ended up being reduced to six months which means that he was cleared to compete as from 10 February following being out of action since 10 August 2024.

Mkhwaanazi is relieved after being given the all clear to race again. His first race back will be the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K. Photo Credit: Action Photo.

"It has been tough. Not being able to do what you love is the worst thing that one can go through, but with the support of friends and family they made it bearable. It feels really good to be back and being able to do what you do best again. I could not be happier now that I am cleared," explains Mkhwanazi, who holds a 62:49 half marathon personal best. 

"I have learned that there is a very thin line between legal and illegal supplements and that extreme caution needs to be exercised at all times when making a purchase and that some products are misleading. I wouldn't really say I won the case as I have been given a sanction but due to the nature of my case it is a personal victory as I have cooperated fully with the investigation," he told #TheTopRunner.

Mkhwanazi was the one of the big winners at the 2024 Black Diamond AC Awards on the back of his tremendous improvements over 10km in particular. Photo Credit: Black Diamond AC.

Mkhwanazi's comeback is good news as the the country's road running calendar is about to get into full-swing. Last year he announced himself as one of the country's dangerous competitors over 10km distance following his performances in Absa RUN YOUR CITY series races. In Gqeberha leg, he ran a sensational 28:44 to finish 6th overall against the quality field assembled including East Africans. He improved on that finish a month later when he took fifth position in Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Cape Town in an excellent time of 28:35. With the doping scare behind him, Mkhwanazi is now looking ahead to performing well at the Absa RYC which kicks off in Gqeberha on 13 April.

"Setbacks are temporary. Although I have been training in my absence, I have not been racing so I couldn't really judge my form well, so it's hard to say what time I can run now. But all I can say is that form is temporary and class is permanent. So for now let us say only time will tell," he concluded.