Zola Budd “ineligible” for Olympics

Press, 26 April 1984, Page 40

Zola Budd “ineligible” for Olympics

NZPA-AP Stockholm, Sweden

The South African middle-distance runner, Zola Budd, will probably not become eligible for the Los Angeles Olympics despite her British citizenship, said a Swedish member of the International Olympic Committee tonight.

Gunnar Ericsson, a member of the 1.0.C.’s eligibility committee, said: “It is unlikeMthat she will be eligibkJßto compete in Los AisjMes according to the

information I have received on her.” Budd, aged 17, who ran the world’s fastest unofficial time in the non-Olympic 5000 metre event early this year in a meeting in South Africa, was granted British citizenship recently. Mr Ericsson said that the eight-member 1.0. C. eligibility committee would discuss the Budd case in Lausanne, Switerland, tomorrow.

According to Mr Ericsson, Olympic eligibility fcles are very clear c<. cerning naturalised athletes?

The rules say "a naturalised athlete cannot compete for the new country until he or she has been a citizen of that nation for three years,” Mr Ericsson said.

“As far as I can remember we have never made an exception from this rule, and I don’t expect an exception this time either.”

But British track and field officials insist that rule doesn’t apply to the Budd case. They have noted that the 1.0. C. has the power to

waive the eligibility rule. Her father, Frank Budd, has a British passport, although he is a South African citizen, but her grandfather was born in London, giving her the right as a minor to claim British citizenship. She was granted citizenship within ten days of applying for it — unusually quick for such an application. Mr Ericsson said he didn’t know if a definite decision in the case would be redbhed in Lausanne: “There is a possibility that the eligibility committee’s

decision will be delayed.” Several Third World nations reportedly have demanded that 1.0. C. president Juan-Antonio Samaranch, prevent Budd’s bid to compete in Los Angeles. Budd, whose native South Africa is outlawed from the Olympics and most other international amateur sports because of its apartheid policy, ran the 5000 m in 15min 1.83 s in January. That was 6.43 seconds faster than the recognised world record set by the American double world

champion, Mary Decker, in June, 1982. Budd also has the fastest junior times ever recorded in the 1500 and 3000 metres, both Olympic distances, but none of her marks are recognised outside South Africa. Earlier this month, Budd ran her first race in England. She won the 3000 metres in 9:02.6, almost three seconds faster than the Olympic qualifying time. However, she has not yet qualified for the British Olympic team.