IAAF Demand Explanation for South African Olympic Board Member’s Suspension

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has requested an explanation from South Africa after the suspension of the Athletics SA (ASA) board.

IAAF director Cheikh Thiare said the SA Sports Confedaration and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) had failed to inform the IAAF that all eleven members of the ASA board had been suspended in a letter addressed to Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy last week.

The letter stated: “Such information relating to the status of our national member federation in South Africa is, as you can imagine, of considerable concern to the IAAF.

“We are surprised that you did not see fit to notify us of the position directly.”

“We would also ask you to provide us with a clear statement of the grounds that Sascoc considered it had to take the action that it did, together with all supporting documents and evidence.”

The IAAF are asking for copies of the Sascoc board resolution on 12 April and the minutes of the Sascoc general assembly that took place on 13 April.

Zola Majavu was appointed as the interim ASA administrator last week and given to task of helping to clear the organisation’s escaling debt.

However, the IAAF do not recognise Majavu as administrator as article 4.1 of the IAAF constitution states that only democratically elected governing bodies, even those on an interim basis, will not be recognised.