Johannesburg - South Africa's Olympic governing body SASCOC
on Saturday moved quickly to dispel any athletes' fears of
being denied the opportunity to compete internationally following
the organisation's decision to suspend Athletics SA with
immediate effect.
President of SASCOC, Gideon Sam, whose organisation has come out
strongly against ASA following an investigation of the
federation's handling of the Caster Semenya saga, on Saturday
assured track and field athletes that they wouldn't have their
2010 Commonwealth Games or 2012 Olympic Games dreams
scuppered.
In a statement, SASCOC said: “Given our decision as the
SASCOC board to suspend ASA from SASCOC, we are cogniscent of the
fact that this means that no officials or athletes can participate
in any international activity of the (world governing body)
IAAF.
"However, we are negotiating with the IAAF to allow our
officials and athletes in the interim to participate in IAAF
activity under the jurisdiction of SASCOC. We want to assure the
athletes that we will do everything possible to ensure that their
participation in the multi sport events like Commonwealth Games,
Youth Olympic Games, Olympic Games and IAAF and AAAC events will
not be in jeopardy.”
On Friday, SASCOC had taken the decision to suspend ASA as a
federation, after the athletics body had challenged SASCOC's
authority to suspend the entire ASA board, including its president
Leonard Chuene, over their handling of the Caster Semenya
saga.
In the letter to SASCOC, ASA claim the decisions taken by SASCOC
were “unreasonable, procedurally and substantively
unfair”.
Reacting to the letter the SASCOC executive wish to place on record
that:
SASCOC has jurisdiction in the Republic and over its Members,
officials and athletes through SASCOC membership and that ASA is a
member of SASCOC.
Also, members (including ASA) are subordinate to SASCOC and must
comply with the Constitution of SASCOC and any directives issued by
SASCOC. Members Constitutions may not be in conflict with the
Constitution of SASCOC.
Furthermore, SASCOC, through its Board has the power to oversee,
direct, control, administer and, if necessary, manage the
activities of its Members.
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