“STEALING” OF ATHLETES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28671, 22 August 1958, Page 19

“STEALING” OF ATHLETES

Accusation Against U.S. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) STOCKHOLM, August 20. The International Amateur Athletic Federation Council, under pressure from Australia, has accused the United States of “stealing” leading Australian athletes, and recommended that the governing athletic boards of each country should determine whether foreign university scholarships are bona fide or “athletic,” the British United Press reported. Tire UJS.A. member of the council, Mr Dan Ferris, said today that a decision would be taken on the recommendation by the .federation’s plenary congress next Monday or Tuesday. The Australian observer for the European athletics championships, Mr D. J. Cole, said: “This looks like the I.A.A.F. is passing the buck back to Australia.” Australia’s case against the United States was put in a letter from the secretary of the Australian Amateur Athletic Union (Mr Arthur Hodsdon) to the I.A.A.F. Although the letter has not been made public, it is believed Australia claimed the flow of Australian athletes to the United States was not only depleting Australia of leading athletes, but would also lower the standard of athletics in the country. The United States case is that athletic scholarships are not awarded out of hand to foreign athletes, but are granted only after strict scholarship qualifications have been complied with.

The Australian world record holder for the two and three miles, Albert Thomas, who is in Stockholm to watch the European Games, defended the United States scholarship policy. He said: “They (the A.A.U. of Australia) are a bunch of old men 50 years behind the times. After all, they can’t stop us from getting an education, can they?”