Mokulubete Blandina Makatisi

Mokulubete Blandina Makatisi (born 1 September 1995) is a Mosotho long-distance runner. She qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Makatisi was born on 1 September 1995 in Lesobeng, Lesotho, where she grew up. The first of five children, she attended school in Lesobeng until 2010, enrolled at a school in Mapholaneng, in 2011, and then attended Bloemfontein Trompsburg Secondary School in Bloemfontein, South Africa, for two years. She participated in the 1,500m and 5,000m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and competed in the 5,000m at the 2019 African Games. She came in eighth despite competing in shoes that she was wearing for the first time, as well as concerns that her performance was hindered by the delay in receiving them on the eve of the race. At the 2023 Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon, she set the national record with a time of 1:09:45. She received a universality selection to participate at the 2024 Summer Olympics, being one of three representatives of her country. Her selection sparked controversy as the Lesotho National Olympic Committee approved her as the selection, but the Federation of Athletics Lesotho (FAL) believed Neheng Khatala was more qualified and abruptly sent Makatisi a letter stating that her Olympic appearance had been canceled. However, ultimately, Makatisi was selected to compete, being approved by World Athletics (WA). At the Olympics, she placed 31st in the women's marathon with a time of 2:30:20. In 2025, Makatise was banned for three years by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after taking Trenbolone, a banned veterinary drug. The test occurred on 11 October 2024. Due to her signing an admission of guilt prior to an April 10 deadline, her ban was reduced by a year. Her ban was set to expire in October 2027.