The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) took the first steps to place the organisation under interim administration following a long-running dispute among the ASA leadership.

ASA suspended some Board members last week because of in-fighting in the Federation.

This latest development took place at Olympic House in Johannesburg during SASCOC's first General Council meeting of the next Olympic Games cycle leading up to Rio 2016.

"We have noted that the National Federation of athletics and/or individual athletes who fall under the jurisdiction of SASCOC have approached the High Court to decide on a dispute, which is contrary to its articles," said Gideon Sam, the President of SASCOC.

"SASCOC is hereby suspending the individuals duly elected to the board of ASA for infringing the provisions of the constitution of SASCOC and is appointing an administrator to take over the running of the federation, pending the outcome of the charges to be brought against the individual board members of ASA."

ASA suspended more than half its Board last week, as well as financial manager Terrence Magogodela, after President James Evans obtained an urgent interdict in the High Court in Pretoria preventing Board members from taking any further action in their attempt to remove him from his post, pending the result of an arbitration hearing.


This followed Evans's impeachment at an ASA special meeting last month, which he believed had been called without Board members following correct constitutional procedures.

The previous ASA Board was suspended in November 2009, following the Caster Semenya gender debacle and allegations of corruption.

Three senior officials, including former ASA President Leonard Chuene, were suspended from having association with any sport for terms ranging between three and seven years.

Zola Majavu, who has previously served on FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber has been appointed as the interim administrator.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]