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Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
BODYBUILDER Victor Hungwe could be basking in the glory of winning at the world championship from his division, but the hulk could be in trouble with the Sports Commission after he went to Italy allegedly with the blessings of the South African Federation.
Hungwe won the World Physique Federation Mr Universe Under-90kgs to write his own piece of history as the first Zimbabwean ever to win a world bodybuilding title.
The BodyActive athlete qualified for the world championship after doing well at the WPF South African national in Cape Town in September.
Hungwe was then given the green light to participate with the South African team since the National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness is not affiliated to any international body.
However, the Sports Commission appeared not impressed and have asked NFZBBF to compile a report on the circumstances that led Hungwe to compete under the South African banner in Naples on December 12.
Sports Commission’s corporate communications officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa yesterday said the supreme sports governing body wanted to find out how Hungwe got the clearance.
“We read from media reports that Hungwe had won a world championship bodybuilding contest in Italy and we were naturally excited for that.
“But we then checked our records to see how he had gone to the event and noticed that neither his association nor the SRC had cleared him in terms of Statutory Instrument 342.
“Any athlete who goes to participate in an international competition will ask his association to get him clearance from the Sports Commission and this is meant to enforce good governance,” said Nheweyembwa.
Nheweyembwa said the Sports Commission does not dispute the fact that Hungwe is a world champion but need “to have athletes doing things by the book’’.
“We cannot dispute the fact that he is a world champion but we need to establish how he participated and we have since asked the bodybuilding association to give a comprehensive report,” said Nheweyembwa.
Otis Goredema, the NFZBBF president said he will follow the instructions of the Sports Commission and also highlighted why they are not affiliated to any international organisation, a situation that could have tempted Hungwe to go via South Africa.
“We are still an interim body and need to put our house in order first before we go and affiliate with the international federation but that does not stop our athletes from competing in international shows.
“In 2011, Merna Moore went to a world championship in Austria but after getting clearance and even a track-suit from the Sports Commission although were are not affiliated to any world federation.
“So we are abiding by the directive from the Sports Commission and we will give our side,” said Goredema.
Online Reporter