My comeback is personal: Luvo Manyonga

From once literally flying on the world stage to becoming one of the prodigal sons of South African athletics, Luvo Manyonga, is launching yet another comeback following his drug ban.

Clad in an all black outfit at an Athletics South Africa (ASA) press conference, Manyonga walked around the venue with his infectious smile, his head held high, and looked like a man who’s found his purpose again.

Manyonga was banned from athletics in 2020 after failing to avail himself for a mandatory drug test.

The 2016 Olympic silver medallist’s long battle with drug addiction is well documented since crystal meth was detected in his doping sample in 2012, which led to his ban. He’d struggled with drug addiction since he was 17.

He was set to make his official return to the sport on Wednesday night at the Athletics South Africa Grand Prix Continental Tour Challenger 1 at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria but he’s been ruled out by a hamstring Injury.

Speaking to YSport, Manyonga relished being the centre of attention once again.

“I missed it a lot, being on the cameras, being the centre of attention, doing something that people love, entertaining,” he said.

Following his ban in 2020, the now 34-year-old disappeared from athletics circles with ASA even sending out delegations to search for him. But Luvo says his disappearance was when he was in a dark place in his life.

“I didn’t want to be found, I wanted to find myself first so I could be found. You can avail yourself for wrong reasons so I had to look for Luvo and I found Luvo.”

Manyonga has revealed that his comeback is to give back to the country that has given him so much and says he wants to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in September. Written by Ntsako Mkhari