McKenzie under fire

CLASH: BOARD SLAMS 'IRRATIONAL' DISSOLUTION OVER WADA APPEAL COSTS

- Matthew Hirsch

The decision to dissolve the board of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) was "irrational" and relied on a "flawed" forensic report. This was the argument by members of the dissolved board during a tense meeting of the parliamentary portfolio committee on sports, arts and culture this week.

The Saids board was dissolved by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie in May, following a forensic investigation.

The report of the investigation had found that about R1.4 million spent by the board to appeal a finding by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) was irregular. The actual amount spent, according to the board, was less than this.

Wada had issued a notice in September 2023 that South African legislation, in particular the South African Drug Free Sport Amendment Act, 25 of 2006, was not in line with the World Anti-Doping Code. Saids appealed this.

The consequences of non-compliance are significant. South Africa, for example, would not have been awarded the right to host regional, continental and world championships until compliance was achieved.