Durban - Although social media erupted in defence of Zola Budd, some runners have commended KZN Athletics for sticking to the rules.
One runner, part of the “40s club” who did not wish to be named, said somebody had “slipped up” on Budd’s side and that it was clearly written in the rule book that age tags should be worn on the front and back.
“If she didn’t wear the tag, unfortunately sorry for her. As much as we love Zola, the Comrades guys got it right – rules are rules, these are the rules; it’s definitely not a witch-hunt. Somebody slipped up,” the athlete said.
“If you read the instructions it says clearly that if you think you’re going to win, you have to wear the tag on the back and front, those are the rules. It’s just all very unfortunate.”
The runner said the tags cost R5, and commended the race organisers for doing the right thing.
“I don’t think it would have been fair to bend the rules just because it’s Zola, because all that happens is that there’ll be a problem again next year,” he said.
The Nedbank Running Club’s manager and coach, Nick Bester, whose runners won the men and women’s main race, said a runner had to wear a sticker if running in a category race.
“It’s common sense in South Africa really, you have to wear that tag. We make sure that we keep extra tags for our international runners, and this is the rules of Athletics South Africa, not only just a Comrades thing,” he said.
“They make runners wear tags on their backs and front so other runners in the same category can see you.”
Twitterati support #ZolaBudd
* @alecriddle: Just when 1 thought @ComradesRace was on right track, controversy again! No prize for 48yo Zola Budd. Confusion over age tag?
* @HypeManHaeze: I woke up to the news that Zola Budd has been stripped of her veteran title, I don’t know how to feel about this.
* @prieurdo: I really hope Zola Budd being stripped of her title is all some bizarre misunderstanding. WTF @ComradesRace?
* @MalcolmMolver: Hey @ComradesRace what the hell do you have against Zola Budd?? She’s a hero who deserves the veteran’s title!!
* @thrish06: @ComradesRace how abt some plain old common sense and decency. Shocking inflexibility shown by organisers #ZolaBudd
* @adharanand: A woman who just can’t escape controversy.
* @CraigHerzberg: Zola Budd comes 7th overall at Comrades and 1st veteran to cross the line but not getting her vets prize for not having a tag sewn in? BS!
* @grusomegresh: once again it seems that our provincial and national federations are a bunch of muppets. #ZolaBudd #sascoc #csa #iaaf #asa