South Africa's Olympic governing body, SASCOC, and the Athletics SA Interim Board, headed by veteran administrator Ray Mali, have made strong progress in taking athletics forward with the release today (Wednesday) of some important developments.
SASCOC originally suspended Athletics South Africa as a member of SASCOC on 6 November 2009. The suspension of ASA came a day after the suspension of ASA president Leonard Chuene and the board of ASA over their handling of women's 800m world champion, Caster Semenya.
Mali assumed office on 16 November and on 21 November he announced the formation of a nine-strong interim body to oversee the running of athletics.
There had been widespread condemnation of the manner in which Semenya, had been treated in the wake of her Berlin performance. Reports suggested that she had been subjected to a gender test by ASA before going to the world championships. The global athletics governing association, the IAAF, is now dealing exclusively with the Semenya saga and are still busy analysing the results of the test.
At the SASCOC Board meeting last month (26 January) it was unanimously decided that a forensic audit needed to be commissioned under the eye of Deloitte and Touche. This resolution was supported and endorsed unanimously by the Interim Board of ASA.
The audit has potentially far-reaching implications.
In explaining the current situation, the chief executive officer of SASCOC, Tubby Reddy, said:
"We understand that there have been accusations that perhaps we haven't dealt with things in a speedy manner. However, we have been working tirelessly behind the scenes and due process has been followed.
"The process has been long and frustrating, for various reasons, including the fact that we had a down period during the festive season.
"We are now in the position to announce that:
1) On taking office at Athletics SA, Mr Ray Mali found a number of shredding machines which was used to shred documentation.
2) Many files on computers and the server have been deleted and destroyed by ASA personnel.
3) Serious concerns have been raised on the finances of the organisation.
"Therefore while Deloitte and Touche conduct the forensic audit into the finances and administration of ASA, Advocate Collins will continue to develop the charge sheets on each of the suspended individuals and continue with the disciplinary hearings which are targeted for mid-March onwards," Reddy said in a statement on behalf of SASCOC.
He added: "When the forensic audit process is completed if a commission of enquiry or criminal charges are necessary this will evolve at that stage."
The revelation that there is a forensic audit currently being conducted, as well as that shredding machines were used by the previous Athletics SA administration to shred documents show the difficulties that SASCOC and the Interim ASA Board have had to deal with. However, it also highlights how much progress has been made in paving the way forward.
Athletics has won the most medals (9) of any code since South Africa returned to the Olympic fold at Barcelona in 1992, and the haul includes Josia Thugwane's gold in 1996. It also provided the only medal (Khotso Mokoena) from the 2008 Games in Beijing.
SASCOC president, Gideon Sam, has been transparent in what he expects from South Africa at the London 2012 Games. "We are serious about attaining 12 medals, and we believe it's an ambitious, but reachable target. However, we need all our sports to be strong, and we expect athletics to be able to play its part in winning medals."
Given the manner in which SASCOC and the Interim ASA Board have been progressing, and in light of today's revelations, it suggests that things are on the right track.
Statement issued by SASCOC, February 10 2010
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