Russian athlete heads to court over Comrades Marathon ban
Russian athlete Alexandra Morozova has filed an urgent application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal, after her 11th hour ban from participating in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been cited as the reason for Morozova not being able to participate in the race.
Comrades Race Director Rowyn James told SABC TV on Friday evening the recommendation that Russian athletes not participate in the race is a directive from its mother body, Athletics South Africa.
“We as the event’s organisers take our que from Athletics South Africa, the National Federation. We cannot make rules and regulations. We only must carry out the rules and regulations made by the federation Athletics South Africa.
ALSO READ: LISTEN: The road to the Comrades, what it takes
“Athletics South Africa receives a directive from World Athletics which is a governing body, strongly recommending that Russians do not participate. We are taking the que from them at the moment, but it still hasn’t been finalized yet. But as soon as it is then we as event organizers will act accordingly.”
World Athletics stipulates that Russian athletes not be allowed to compete in international events after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
The Comrades Marathon has attracted 14 000 runners from across the globe for its first race in two years and since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sunday’s race will begin in Pietermaritzburg and end at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
