Olympics star Tebello Ramakongoana has threatened to boycott the next edition of the Mountain Marathon 21km race, citing unpaid prize money from the previous event, almost seven months after his victorious debut.
Ramakongoana, who claimed the men’s title at the inaugural race on October 26, 2024, with a time of 1:10:04, said he has yet to receive the promised M150,000 for his win.
His frustration has now escalated to the point of considering a complete withdrawal from the 2025 event.
“Every time I asked, they said, ‘next week.’ Then they claimed I was not home, so I would be paid once I returned from the U.S. But when I got back last month, it was still the same story,” said the 29-year-old from Ha-Mohlapiso.
With no payment in sight and a trail of broken promises, Ramakongoana says he feels both disrespected and exploited.
“I am sad and discouraged. I do not see myself running again unless things change,” he told Newsday.
Ramakongoana’s threat to boycott underscores growing discontent among elite athletes over the event’s management and the silence of responsible stakeholders. His call for change is echoed by other runners who are also yet to receive their winnings.
Blame for the prize money debacle has been passed between organisers, sponsors, and the Federation of Athletics Lesotho (FAL), leaving athletes in a financial and emotional bind.
“What happened is that the organiser, Lisa, claimed not to know anything, saying that only the sponsor, the owner of the race, made the promises. In the end, he did not pay,” Ramakongoana said.
“The men who were supposed to be paid went looking for him.”
He has claimed the organisers distanced themselves from the issue, stating that the sponsor dealt directly with FAL.
“The person who organised the race told me I should follow up on the matter. Later, he said the reason was that the bank refused to process the transfers. Then the sponsor and president took athletes who were due to be paid to Ladybrand. I asked, ‘So how am I going to get paid?’ They told me I would be paid when I arrive. I came back in April, but I still have not received my money,” he said.
Further muddying the waters, the women’s race results have been delayed by a doping scandal involving Olympian Mokulubete Makatisi, who tested positive for the banned substance trenbolone. The scandal has led to a shuffle in final placements, and no revised prize payments have been made.
Athletes in both the men’s and women’s categories have called for the Federation and event organisers to clarify the situation and take immediate action to resolve all outstanding issues.
With the October 2025 edition of the Mountain Marathon fast approaching, Ramakongoana’s boycott warning raises concerns that top-tier athletes may opt out of the event entirely unless credible steps are taken to restore trust.
“I am struggling financially,” said Ramakongoana. “We run to survive, and when people do not honour their promises, it is more than just unfair. It is a betrayal.”
He says speaking out publicly is a last resort, but hopes it will compel those responsible to finally act.
FAL and Mountain Marathon organisers could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
