More Allegations Against Budd’s South Africa Ties

LONDON — South African-born runner Zola Budd, who faces a year-long ban from international track and field over continuing links with her homeland, was the focus Sunday of new allegations that she was “guest of honor” at a New Year’s Eve meet in the sports-ostracized African country.

Now a British citizen, Budd was reported in the London-based Mail On Sunday to have been present at an awards ceremony for a 10-kilometer road race at Randfontein, receiving flowers from fans and signing autographs.

The 21-year-old runner already is the subject of a special committee of inquiry set up by the British Amateur Athletic Board, which has been instructed by the sport’s world governing body to ban her for a year over her alleged involvement in a meet at Brakpan, South Africa, last June.

The BAAB will make its decision regarding the ban on May 21, after the inquiry is completed. If it is imposed, Budd will miss this summer’s Olympic Games at Seoul, South Korea, as well as any other meet governed by the International Amateur Athletic Federation during the next year.

The IAAF has ruled that Budd was guilty of breaking the spirit of its anti-apartheid stance by attending the meet at Brakpan, although she did not take part.

The Mail on Sunday said, however, the IAAF and the BAAB will be more concerned about her alleged involvement in the meet at Randfontein.

Its report said that two days before the event, the Johannesburg Citizen ran a story announcing that Budd would present the prizes and would be assured of a big welcome as one of the guests of honor.

The Mail On Sunday said the 10K race was set up by Fanie Van Zyl, then her coach and mayor of Randfontein.

It quoted one of the meet organizers, Fred Opperman, as saying that, when Budd arrived, she was surrounded by people who wanted to see her and she signed autographs.

“At the prize-giving ceremony, Fanie handed out prizes on a podium with his wife. Zola stood next to him,” Opperman was quoted as saying.