2024-04-11 20:59:07
Photos: We are Athletics and Cuba Yes
Text: Editorial Cuba Noticias 360
The main rival of Cuban jumper Juan Miguel Echevarría in recent years, South African Luvo Manyonga, could be left out of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games due to a sanction related to doping.
The world champion in London 2017 was not reachable for three surprise anti-doping controls and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) decided to temporarily suspend him from all competitions.
If the ruling of the international organization becomes effective, the African athlete, who turned 30 on Friday, would not be able to attend his second summer event, where he would seek another medal after the silver he won in Rio de Janeiro 2016.
Since the Caribbean Echevarría rose to stardom at the beginning of 2018, his fight with the South African has become a highlight of every event both have presented.
Precisely, the Camagüey native’s first great success was the title of the World Indoor Championships held in Birmingham almost three years ago.
In that British city, an unknown Echevarría dethroned the favorite Mayonga by two centimeters to begin a rivalry that continued later in the different editions of the Diamond League and in the 2019 Doha Outdoor World Cup.
Due to this rivalry, the competition where both took part in that universal contest was one of the most followed of the entire event, although neither of them could climb to the top of the podium. However, despite his youth, the Cuban has taken the best dividends from the private duel, thanks to better records and more individual awards.
Although Juan Miguel participated in some rallies during the 2020 pandemic, Manyonga remained absent from the tracks and that is why he did not report his location, a requirement of the AIU to carry out the aforementioned surprise controls.
This is not the first time that the African has been the victim of a sanction, since in 2012 he was suspended for 18 months for a positive test for methamphetamine.
While his new case is processed in the sports courts and the athlete himself launches his appeal, the world of athletics will be awaiting the outcome of this new chapter of doping, which could truncate one of the most anticipated moments of the event under the five rings of the Japanese capital.