S.A. Fact-Finding Mission In Doubt

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31366, 11 May 1967, Page 15

S.A. Fact-Finding Mission In Doubt

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

TEHERAN. Doubts have arisen about the visit of a three-man International Olympic Committee team to South Africa.

The 1.0. C. yesterday named the committee, which is to see if racial discrimination exists in South African sport.

Soon afterwards, the 1.0. C. president, Mr Avery Brundage, told a press conference that the membership of the fact - finding mission was not definite. He described the situation as fluid.

The 1.0. C. announcement, at its congress here, said the mission would be made up of Sir Ade Ademola, of Nigeria, Mr Reginald Alexander, of Kenya, and the 1.0. C. secre-tary-general, Mr Johann Westerhoff.

But Mr Brundage told the press conference that there were doubts whether Sir

Ade Ademola would be able to head the mission as hoped, and said that it was not yet certain whether Mr Alexander would go.

Questioned about the South African question, Mr Brundage said: “I observed with pleasure that a considerable advance had been made according to the representatives of the South African Olympic Committee who appeared before us.” Doping Tests Mr Brundage said that in rules drawn up on doping in sports, the 1.0. C. had made it clear that if one competitor was found to have taken drugs the whole team of that

country would be expelled from whatever sport was concerned. He said that tests for doping during the soccer World Cup tournament in England last year had proved a satisfactory deterrent. Mr Brundage said the 1.0. C. was issuing a new entry form on amateurism which, though making no changes in the “code of eligibility,” tightened the rules.

He said that strenuous efforts would be made in Mexico City to prevent infringements and said the 1.0. C. was going to see that athletes did not make money out of the Olympics. Govt Interference

Mr Brundage said that one of the most important things done during the congress was to change the rules about Government interference so that Governments cannot designate members of their national Olympic committees. “We don’t want any that are representatives of their Government,” he said. The 1.0. C. made no changes during the congress in the rules regarding the election of its presidents, as many observers had expected.