Zola stripped of Comrades cash

When Zola Budd crossed the line in seventh earlier this month she got to experience the thrill of finishing and also earning a gold medal. Her feat also meant she was the first South African woman home and the winner of the veteran (40-49 years) age group category.

But the last achievement has been short-lived, with news emerging yesterday that Budd has been stripped of the R12 000 prize for failing to display her age category tag on her running vest, according to officials. It’s a ruling that has upset the 48-year-old and her management team a great deal.

The former Olympic 5 000m runner was issued with an international number, which has the age category tag on it. In the international final instructions it states that the age category is on the race number.

The women who were awarded the second and third places also only had an age category on their race numbers – exactly the same as Budd, according to her manager in South Africa, Ray de Vries.

“I won it fair and square – my whole athletics career has been plagued by politics and interference from administrators who are selective and do not apply the rules consistently,” Budd said from her home in the United States.

“It feels like they are targeting me specifically. Why does this rule apply to me and not to others?” she asked.

“The question is why is Zola being singled out? A mistake has been made and it needs to be rectified,” De Vries said yesterday.

“Firstly, her final instructions said the age category is on the race number on the front and back; and secondly, the athletes who were officially placed first and second were also not wearing separate tags. Rules must be applied equally and consistently,” said a furious De Vries.

De Vries added that after Budd’s perfect Comrades and huge support from the crowds along the way, she is hugely disappointed.