IAAF fines BAA P100,000
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday May 24, 2019 12:34
The amount includes insurance cover and affiliation of $2,000 (P20,000).
Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) treasurer, Brian Mosweu said they were expecting the punishment from IAAF.
He said BAA has submitted a request to the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) in order to settle the fine. The IAAF has given the local athletics body up to next week Tuesday to have paid the amount.
“We have been waiting for them to take action. But we have been lucky because initially we were to pay $1,000 per athlete, which was going to take our fine to $21,000. They reduced our fine,” he said.
He said they should pay the fine first before the IAAF can give the BAA a grant. Mosweu said they were not fined for missing out on the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Tampere last year.
He revealed that the IAAF was lenient as this was a junior tournament.
There was uproar after the BAA failed to send the senior team to the World Relays in Yokohama, Japan earlier this month.
The BAA blamed the BNSC for failing to release funds on time, while the umbrella sport body argued the athletics association had not applied for visas to travel to Japan.
In the ensuing fallout, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tshekedi Khama pointed an accusing finger at BAA, and has ordered the BNSC to take disciplinary measures.
Meanwhile, Botswana faces a possible ban from the IAAF with another ‘coup’ on the cards at the BAA. Minister Khama this week ordered the BNSC to act against the BAA over the failed trip to the World Relays.
BAA troubles began in 2017 when affiliates passed a motion of no confidence against former secretary general, Kebaitse Legojane. Moses Bantsi (president) and Ronald Masalila (vice president) quit in the aftermath.
The affiliates had argued that the committee had failed. “If the committee is suspended, it will mean the BNSC will take over the operations of BAA. The secretariat might take a longer time to call for elections. That would rub the IAAF the wrong way, which might lead to the suspension of the country from the athletics competitions.
“In 2017 they wrote a letter to us raising concern that we were changing committees many times. This time around they might accuse the government of interfering in the running of athletics affairs. They would ban us, saying we should sort ourselves out,” BAA treasurer, Brian Mosweu, said.
The committee faces a motion of no confidence, with elections lurking.
“If they pass a motion of no confidence, it would be for which positions? In the new constitution, there are four vice presidents. The motion must be received at the BAA office 14 days before the special general meeting,” he said. Mosweu said a motion is unnecessary since elections are only a few weeks away, in June. He said the challenge the BAA is facing is to get affiliates to comply.
Out of 18 affiliates, only 10 have complied with the Registrar of Societies. He said it is impossible for affiliates that have not complied to vote. Mosweu said the new constitution was submitted to the Registrar of Societies late as affiliates were dragging their feet when it came to compliance.
But some affiliates have warned that the BNSC issue must be handled properly.
“They must tread carefully or else it would blow up in their faces. The best way is to allow affiliates to take charge.
We are friends above all in athletics, any mistake they make, affiliates would regroup,” one member said.
Meanwhile, BAA vice secretary general, Olebogeng Oitebetse broke ranks with her committee on Wednesday in front of Khama. “It pains me that we have killed many athletes with our attitude as the BAA executive committee.
We are divided and not sharing responsibility,” Oitebetse said. She pointed out that it was not the time to point fingers because athletes did not travel.
Oitebetse said as the BAA goes for election, affiliates must make sure they put responsible people in office.
“Failure to attend the competition comes with a penalty. With elections, you are in today, tomorrow you are out and athletes must compete,” she said.