OPINION: Decision by Comrades Marathon members could result in overhaul of SA athletics

Runners participating in the annual Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal/AFP The decision made by Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) members at a special general meeting (SGM) over the weekend might be remembered as a watershed moment for South African road running. Members met on Saturday to vote on whether or not they wanted the prestigious race to stay affiliated to provincial and national federations.

And the result is likely to have far-reaching implications on the sport, with federations being pushed into a corner and forced to play ball. The battle started a couple of years ago when KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) tried to stop Comrades runners outside the province from becoming CMA members, with the provincial body losing the fight in court. Then, due to conflict with KZNA, the CMA attempted to sidestep the provincial federation by affiliating itself directly toAthletics South Africa(ASA).

This didn’t work, however, with ASA stating that theComrades racehad to fall under the jurisdiction of KZNA. So the CMA board gave the organisation’s members a choice: either remain sanctioned or cut ties with the sport’s governing bodies. The members spoke loudly and clearly, with the overwhelming majority of people voting at the SGM in favour of independence.

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And though the CMA says it will continue engaging with KZNA, the provincial body comes to the table with very little bargaining power moving forward. If the provincial federation doesn’t find a way to meet Comrades in the middle, rather than trying to assert its control over the race, Comrades will become an unaffiliated ‘fun run’.

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