Since receiving a one-year ban for doping, South African teenager Rickardo Broxham has turned his life around: He went from the depths of depression and having suicidal thoughts to finding a new purpose through his faith.
Rickardo Broxham tells how he has turned his life around since receiving a one-year ban for doping. Photo: Supplied
The 19-year-old received news of the ban in October, 2018, but was only legally banned in March last year. Although his ban was lifted on September 22 last year, he has not returned to competitive cycling.
Broxham stated that what happened was completely unintentional, but still he adhered to all the rules during his ban, such as not competing in any events.
“I remember I just returned home from Europe when I received the call and saw it was a number from Switzerland,” Broxham exclusively told In the Bunch from his home in Ermelo.
“As I signed a contract with the UCI and I was planning to go back and race with them in a few months’ time, I thought they phoned me to sort out my visa.
“But the guy said ‘listen, you were tested positive for Heptaminol at junior track world champs’. I thought he was joking.”
The 2018 Junior Tour of Ireland winner said it had felt like everything was going perfectly for him in his career.
“I did well at world champs, raced well in Europe and I had that dream contract there that I always wanted. I thought ‘can this be real?’ I was so unsure of what was going to happen and felt so shocked.
“Thank goodness we could phone my manager Kurt Beggemann who was with me at world champs and also when I got tested. He supported me all the way.”
He added that the past year had been a roller-coaster. He felt depressed during the case and knew the only thing that was standing between him and losing his career was the B-sample.
“I was actually suicidal and thinking maybe how can I take my life, how can I destroy whatever this is. That was all I knew – cycling. It was my sport and my career. I knew nothing apart from that.
“I withdrew myself completely. I would lock myself in my room for a week. What helped me eventually overcome this was my family.”
Broxham said he was forced to go to youth church, because his mother set up a meeting.
“That night I had an encounter with Jesus. I just felt His love and I know that helped me overcome it. The shame was taken away from me. The best thing that came out of this for me was coming to Christ.
“Also, I learnt to appreciate my family and really enjoy them. If you look at it this way, I lost my career and dream but I got back double. In fact I didn’t lose anything, I actually gained.”
A lesson that he learnt throughout this process was that the chances of getting tested positive were real and something to take note of.
“It’s not only Lance Armstrong that tests positive.
“We actually had a teaching at the World Cycling Centre one afternoon with a lawyer from the UCI and he said ‘guys, lock up your water bottles, make sure it’s in your eyesight constantly’. I realised later that this is serious. Look what happened to me.”
Broxham said as he looked back at himself two years ago and where he was now, he realised what occurred had shaped him as a person. The way he saw life today was completely different to how he saw it before he was banned.
“If you ask me today, the best thing that has happened in my life was the fact that I was banned. Not because of the sport, but because of who I was in the sport.
“The main place I’ve grown is in humility. I’ve always heard people say ‘stay humble’, but that’s the hardest thing to do when you become successful. I was prideful.”
He added that although he was still active and training, he did not think he would ever return to competitive cycling.
“What I keep myself busy with now is my church group. I’m with our ministry full-time. I haven’t looked back ever since. This is where I’m supposed to be.
“I do miss the people, such as my former ProTouch teammates and manager a lot, and also the travelling.”
Broxham felt the support he had received had generally been great and the people who truly knew him knew he would never have done something wrong intentionally.
“Thanks to these guys and how everyone reacted. I think most of the shame came from myself and not necessarily the outside world.
“Thanks to tannie Jill [Bezuidenhout] for her support. She was one of the first people to know and she’s been such an influence in my life. Also thanks to Kurt, Mark van der Merwe, Hein Badenhorst, Tony Harding and ProTouch. They never pointed any fingers.”
He also had specific advice for youngsters and also those who have been in the sport for a long time.
“My advice for the next generation of cyclists would be for you to focus on the sport, but also do any other activities you love. Also focus on school, friends and most importantly your family.
“For the elite bunch, I think that you don’t necessarily notice it but the youngsters really look up to you, they see what you do. I advise you to have a bit more of an influence on them.”
His advice for those going through something similar to what he went through is to speak and not to exclude themselves, but to surround themselves with people who understand and love them.
“Have your friends and family around you, and seek the Lord.”
