The Department of Sport and Recreation on Friday applauded the South African Olympic governing body Sascoc for its action against Athletics South Africa, hours after Sascoc had suspended the national athletics federation.

"The National Sport and Recreation Act places the responsibility of dealing with errant federations on Sascoc," the Sport Ministry said in a statement.

"In the case of Sascoc this responsibility was exercised in a very responsible and professional way. Sufficient time was taken to apply their minds on the issues.

"This was followed by an emotion-free investigation by a special commission of professionals.

"The findings and recommendations are very well researched and formulated. Only irresponsible administrators would ignore them.

"We applaud Sascoc for the correct response to a situation that embarrassed our nation and our athletics."

The statement added that "ASA must now pick up the pieces and allow the due process of the law to be completed" as the "integrity of our athletics, its governance and status in the international sporting world is at stake."

The federation's suspension comes after Sascoc received a letter from attorneys representing ASA claiming that Sascoc did not have the authority to suspend its board members or employees, which it had done on Thursday.

ASA claimed in the letter, Sascoc said, that the Olympic body's decisions had been "unreasonable, procedurally and substantively unfair".

But in a statement released by Sascoc on Friday, the organisation's executive said it "wishes to place on record that Sascoc has jurisdiction in the Republic and over its members, officials and athletes through Sascoc membership and that ASA is a member of Sascoc.

"Also," the statement continued, "members (including ASA) are subordinate to Sascoc and must comply with the Constitution of Sascoc and any directives issued by Sascoc. Members' constitutions may not be in conflict with the Constitution of Sascoc.

"Furthermore, Sascoc, through its board, has the power to oversee, direct, control, administer and, if necessary, manage the activities of its members."

Sascoc added that ASA had indicated it would not respect the directives and/or resolutions of the Olympic body and had engaged in acts of "misconduct and misdemeanours in relation to the Caster Semenya affair which brought Sascoc into disrepute".

Sascoc said it had no intention of "becoming involved in a mud- slinging to-and-fro slanging match conducted in the media," adding that it was following "due process and protocol".

Sapa

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