They again swapped later in the race to allow Motsoeneng to complete. Motsoeneng obtained 9th position and won a prize amounting to just under R6 000.

Sergio and Fika Motsoeneng were caught after a newspaper published photos showing them wearing watches on opposite wrists. Upon admitting his guilt through his lawyer, Clem Harrington of Bethlehem, Motsoeneng said his actions were those of a desperate man from a poverty-stricken family. The two brothers were later suspended for ten years from participating in the race by the Comrades Marathon Association.

In 2010, 11 years since his ban from the Comrades Marathon, Motsoeneng took part in the marathon again. He finished third, only to be plagued by another controversy when an unknown, banned substance was found in his system. After failing both tests, Motsoeneng lost all chances of receiving the gold medal and prize money to the amount of R90 000. He is currently banned from the comrades for another 2 years. He maintains his innocence, claiming to have never used drugs.

*Note: Sources vary as to the exact distance of the marathon. They all claim that the marathon is 87-90km, but the official Comrades Marathon Association website claims the race is 89km.

Source: South African History Online

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