WADA appoints Khotso Mokoena as Olympic ambassador

WADA initiated discussions with Mokoena during the All-Africa Games in Ghana on a trial basis in March, and has since been appointed for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.

As the Chairperson of the SASCOC Athletes Commission, Mokoena is eager to share his extensive knowledge with athletes from various countries at the Olympic Village when he departs for Paris.

"They have now made their Athletes' Education Ambassador for programmes that we'll be running for athletes within the Athletes' Village and so on at Olympic Games," said Mokoena.

"I was part of them, as a first trial run, at the All-African Games in Ghana, and now I'm part of their team for the Paris Olympic Games, and there's also other major events like Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

"They've got these programmes that they run for athletes there, where we share and also test knowledge so that they can always be equipped with the right information and instruments they need to also safeguard themselves from things outside of their control."

Mokoena’s passion extends beyond long jump and he is deeply committed to educating athletes on managing their careers – both during their active phase and after retirement, thus perfectly aligning with his appointment at WADA.

"With regards to the 2024 Olympic Games, it has brought me a couple of good things – I think when we also look at the type of person I am and the initiatives I've always been doing, it has always been about the youth and education," he noted.

"That has always been my line of business, it's something I always looked at outside of jumping, and looking at 2024, somehow that has also manifested into my sports administration position through WADA."

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