ASA names seven-member ad hoc committee

“The members of the ad hoc committee have been nominated by the whole South African athletics family,” said International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) representative Cheikh Thiare.

“Their tasks have been clearly listed in a road map.”

The committee would be chaired by Daan du Toit, and also included Colleen McNally, Sam Mlangeni, Mike Fraser, Paul van der Merwe, Brandon du Plessis and George Lamb.

Thiare confirmed that elections for a new ASA executive would be held on May 24.

All nominations would need to be submitted to the ad hoc committee by April 24.

The election process in forming a new board would be closely monitored by the global governing body.

“All actions taken must be in full compliance with the IAAF constitution, and it is a prerequisite that all court cases and suspensions between members must be dropped.”

Daan du Toit, chairman of the ad hoc committee, confirmed that a team would be entered for next month’s World Indoor Championships ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, and Thiare said it would be accepted by the IAAF.

The committee would be involved in the day-to-day affairs of the ASA office in Houghton, and would decide later this week whether to keep Richard Stander in his position.

Stander had been appointed to run the office by the ASA interim board, which stepped down at the weekend along with former president James Evans and his depleted executive.

“The main goal is to reunite the South African athletics family, and bring back peace and order in the house,” Thiare said.

Thiare, who met with both factions of the ASA leadership crisis at the weekend, found that administrators had reached a stalemate after a year-long power struggle and the federation had come to a standstill.

He recommended on Sunday that an ad hoc committee be appointed to take the sport forward.

– Sapa