Who polices the running police? I can confirm that at least 3 provincial technical officials (from 2 different provinces) are amongst the list of tipoffs and confirmed Two Oceans bib bandits that were sent to me. These are the same people who take joy disqualifying recreational runners for technical reasons or because they woke up one morning and decided to make a particularly bizarre interpretation of a rule meant for elite athletes in diamond league events (as happened in Limpopo with #CapGate last weekend).
There have been some truly inexplicable decisions and edicts emerging from the bowels of our provincial athletics unions recently. Unfortunately I just don’t have the capacity at present to properly investigate and address each one. Suffice to say that South Africa is the only country in the world where national and provincial bodies try to govern and regulate recreational running. All good and well when you have capable people who are putting the best interests of the runners and the sport first but that is clearly not happening at present.
Pedantic and draconian referees are killing the sport. Enforcing World Athletics rules that were never meant to apply to recreational runners is just plain stupid. Trying to control every superficial aspect of the sport (like club long runs) when all athletics administrative layers are a viper’s pit of corruption, maladministration and incompetence is gaslighting of the highest order.
Remember that between 12% and 15% of every race entry fee, 100% of your annual license fee and 100% of every temp license goes to the administrators. They take a lot. But what do they give back in return? Disqualifications, headaches and unnecessary stress.
The role of the race referee should be really quite simple. Ensure a fair race for those competing for prize money and a safe and enjoyable race for the other 99% of the field. It really is as simple as that. Telling runners that their running cap is supposedly illegal on race morning and forcing someone to run without head protection for 50km in the Polokwane heat is negligent.
Instead of being the fashion police and insisting that clubs get approvals for their long training runs, here are some things our administrators can focus on which would be a much better use of their time:
- Censure and put those in jail who hosted fraudulent events like the Mpumalanga R1million scam and the missing Soweto Marathon prize money.
- Ensure that checks are put in place before events so that elite athletes are guaranteed their prize money.
- Get rid of the convicted rapist that is apparently still integrally involved in AFS via his wife who recently appointed herself as acting president of the union.
- Investigate the conflict of interests that exist within most provincial unions.
- Educate race referees about the rules and sensible application thereof.
- Do a practical rewrite of the ASA rules. Differentiate between the application of rules at tier one events for elites (of which there are very few), prize contenders at lower grade events (normal club organised races) and recreational runners (where only safety rules should apply).
- Do background and criminal checks on every administrator. Other than convicted rapists we’ve had a convicted fraudster (who stole money meant for developing athletics facilities in the Northern Cape) as acting CEO for ASA for years.
- Ensure that James Moloi is prosecuted for the well-published fraud he is alleged to have committed. Ensure that checks and balances are put in place so that this can never occur again.
- Bring athletics into the 21st century with a national database of results, known cheats, etc.
- Make athletics more accessible by allowing electronic attendance of meetings and AGMs, and allow electronic voting for all elected positions.
- Actually spend time and effort developing running talent in South Africa. At present all emerging talent comes from private and corporate sponsorships.
