ASA to set up inquiry commission

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James Evans.

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 Johannesburg -Athletics SA (ASA) will hold another special general meeting (SGM) in April to appoint a commission of inquiry into the governing body, it emerged on Friday,

Pieter de Jager, ASA's technical manager, said in an e-mail to members that “at least one third” of its provinces had called for the SGM.

“The original schedule of meetings indicated that the AGM was to be held in Cape Town with the SA Senior Championships on April 14,” the e-mail read.

“As that notice for that meeting has not been sent out, the SGM will be held in its place.

“The date for the AGM will be confirmed at the SGM.”

The agenda would include a reconsideration of the decision made at an SGM in Johannesburg earlier this month to impeach ASA president James Evans.

An independent commission of inquiry would be set up to “investigate the affairs of ASA”, and the behaviour of its board and office staff, and its financial situation.

The commission would also advise on the structure of the ASA board.

Evans's impeachment followed accusations that he made payments to himself from ASA's coffers, entered into various agreements and settlements with ASA staff without the board's knowledge, and instructed the chief financial officer to make payments without the board's authority.

Evans and ASA vice president Hendrick Ramaala squared off in a public spat through the media following the SGM.

While Evans maintained that he was still ASA president, Ramaala, who called the previous meeting, reportedly claimed Evans had been suspended.

The ongoing dispute is the latest in a string of controversies and in-fighting which has damaged the embattled ASA for the past few years, and has left it without a commercial sponsor to fund the domestic track and field and road running seasons.

The ASA is also unable to send a team to the African Youth Athletics' Championships in Warri, Nigeria, next week, because of financial constraints.

The squad for Sunday's World Cross Country Championships in Poland was left in the dark until Tuesday, when ASA confirmed it would be able to send the team to compete in the biennial event. - Sapa