Zola may have a case - Williamson
Experienced runner and running journalist, Norrie Williamson, was with Zola Budd when she was informed that she would be stripped of her Comrades Marathon title.
Williamson and Budd were attending a running congress in Gauteng at the time.
Budd was the first veteran woman to complete Comrades this year, but has lost the title for not displaying her age category tag properly.
Williamson believes Budd may have a chance of regaining the title.
"If she has been disqualified for not having the separate age category tag, then we have a problem. I have viewed photos of the ladies who ended second and third and they too do not have those separate age category tags on. So I expect the issue to go through the process and protest and hopefully there will be a review by the technical officials and a correct decision made," Williamson said.
Williamson briefly served as coach to Budd when she first started road running.
Comrades Marathon race director, Rowan James, believes the correct decision has already been made.
He says the rules are clear and that Budd did not follow them.
James has also made it clear that Budd will retain seventh spot, but not the title of first veteran home.
(File Photo:Gallo Images)
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