Runner faces inquiry

Press, 19 May 1984, Page 72

Runner faces inquiry

NZPA London The British marathon runner, Geoff Smith, has become the latest athlete to face an inquiry over vest advertising, and his place at the Los Angeles Olympics could be in jeopardy.

Smith, who wore a vest carrying the name of a computer company while winning the Boston marathon last month, finds himself in a position similar to that recently faced by New Zealand’s Rod Dixon. The vest contravened the regulations of the International Amateur Athletic Federation which has asked the British Amateur Athletic Board to investigate. “Smith’s vest had so much advertising, he was beginning to look like a racing car. It will be up to the British board to establish whether any money was paid to him,” the I.A.A.F. general secretary, Mr John Holt said.

The secretary of the British board, Mr Nigel Cooper, has, however, offered Smith hope for Los Angeles by pointing to the example of Dixon.

The New Zealander was cleared by the I.A.A.F. after stating that a misunderstanding had caused him to run in a vest advertising an American airline in the 1984 New York marathon.

“When Dixon guaranteed not to do it again, the New Zealand A.A.A. recommended to the I.A.A.F. that his undertaking be accepted,” Mr Cooper said. Mr Cooper said that Smith, who finished a close 1 second to Dixon in New York, had not previously ; been approached for carry- i ing am advertising logo. ;