Rhyn Swanepoel: Losing Lebo Phalula to doping is a bitter pill to swallow

Phalula, who is married to fellow athlete Gladwin Mzazi, tested positive for the banned substance erythropoietin (EPO).

The news left Swanepoel devastated, forcing him to terminate the contract of an athlete he described as a role model and one of the biggest ambassadors of his club.

Swanepoel says he has watched Lebo and her twin sister Lebogang rise through the ranks over the years, noting his long association with the Phalula family and their deep passion for running, as well as their commitment to inspiring young athletes across the country.

“It will always be one of the biggest disappointments of my career,” said a visibly emotional Swanepoel.

“It’s something I never thought would happen. Even though it’s now public knowledge, it’s still tough for me to accept. I’ve known Lebo and her sister for many years, and I wish her well. My prayer is for her to bounce back and give back to the sport as she always does.  We need to stop what’s going on in athletics. I’m heartbroken to lose her from our team.”

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Swanepoel emphasized that Boxer maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward doping, regardless of an athlete’s status or achievements.

“Our contracts are very clear — any doping violation results in immediate termination,” he explained. “And yes, I can confirm that her contract was terminated. There are no exceptions.”

The club boss believes more needs to be done to educate athletes about the dangers of doping and the irreversible damage it can cause to their careers.

“We need more education — and I stress, more regular education — to help our athletes understand what’s at stake,” he said.

 “It’s heartbreaking to see talented runners lose everything because of doping. We must do more to prevent it.”

Boxer continues to excel in road running, with its athletes dominating both the 5km and 10km events.

However, he admits that there is still a need for greater awareness and better protection within the sport.