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ASA provinces pledge support

Johannesburg - South Africa's Olympic governing body said on Friday it had the support of the Athletics SA (ASA) provincial members after placing the federation under administration.

In a statement released by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) on behalf of ASA, Sascoc confirmed that ASA administrator Zola Majavu met 15 provincial presidents and one provincial representative on Thursday.

"Following the meeting the presidents unanimously pledged their unwavering support for Mr Majavu and specifically distanced themselves from any destructive attempts by the currently suspended president, with specific reference to the calling of a general meeting," Sascoc said.

The ASA provinces also confirmed their support for the decision to suspend the ASA board.

Six ASA board members had already been suspended, before Sascoc intervened, after a long-running public spat between the athletics body's president, James Evans, and vice-president Hendrick Ramaala.

"There was also general disappointment expressed in the suspended president and his colleagues in the previous board," Sascoc said.

"The presidents further undertook to support ASA, Sascoc and the administrator in all possible ways on the road forward."

Evans, however, said he had been told by officials who attended the meeting that no decisions had been taken.

Majavu had received seven requests in writing, in support of a call by Evans, to hold a special general meeting in an attempt to regain control of the sport.

"Yesterday’s meeting, which was not attended by all the provinces, could not have had a mandate and was not called in terms of the memorandum of incorporation of Athletics South Africa," he said in a statement.

Evans filed papers in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court, in Cape Town, on Tuesday, in an attempt to overturn Sascoc's decision to suspend the ASA board.

He claimed Sascoc had failed to comply with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act when he was not given the right of reply before he was suspended.

"Prior to taking the decision, I was not asked for comment nor given the opportunity to make representations," Evans wrote in an affidavit.

"In fact, I was not aware that the matter was even being considered."

Sascoc suspended Evans and the entire ASA board in April for infringing the provisions of the Olympic body's constitution, and appointed Zola Majavu as administrator.

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