Zola Budd’s Career Is at Stake Today in Council Meeting

The athletic fate of runner Zola Budd will be determined today by the International Amateur Athletic Federation when its council meets in private session.

At stake is Budd’s eligibility to compete not only in international meets but also in the Olympics.

Budd, 21, left her native South Africa in 1984 and became a British citizen so that she could represent Britain in the Los Angeles Olympics that year. The move alienated her from many in the athletic Establishment here.

South Africa is banned from Olympic competition because of its policy of apartheid, or racial separation.

Still an object of controversy wherever she goes, Budd was suspended by the IAAF last month, pending investigation of charges that she has run in races in South Africa, where she continues to train. The furor over the allegations prompted some African nations to threaten to boycott last month’s World Cross-Country Championships in New Zealand if Budd was allowed to compete.

The groups at first asked the British Amateur Athletic Board to rule Budd ineligible because of her ties with South Africa but the board refused, saying she had fairly qualified for the competition.

Increasing pressure from African nations and New Zealand eventually led to Budd’s decision, “with sadness and regret,” to withdraw from the meet.

The charges against Budd are vague and have been greatly reduced since they were introduced, based on information from the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa.

It was first alleged that Budd had run in a race at Brakpan, South Africa, last June. That charge was based on a newspaper photograph, which later turned out to be of another runner.

Budd said that she had been a spectator at the race.

Then the group charged that Budd had given out awards at a race in South Africa last New Year’s Eve. That was later proved to be untrue. Budd said that she had been on a training run near the course.

The 23 council members must determine the proper interpretation of IAAF Rule 53i, which says that any athlete “taking part” in a race in South Africa may become ineligible.

Never before has the rule been interpreted to include watching.

“The BAAB are completely satisfied that no infringement of the rules have taken place,” John Bryant, Budd’s coach, said. “The pressure on the IAAF to cast her out is high. But it’s crazy. A rule is a rule. You can’t make them up as you go along. All the charges have been dropped and now it’s down to her having watched a race.

“It is clear that Zola is being sacrificed on the altar of political sport.”

By any analysis, the IAAF’s position is a difficult one. If the council clears Budd, allowing her to retain her Olympic eligibility, there will be a very real risk of an African boycott of the Seoul Games this fall.

If the Council finds that Budd broke the rules, it will establish a precedent, a net into which many other athletes may fall. It is not unusual for European and American athletes to train in South Africa, which offers altitude and a mild climate. And it is not unusual for them to watch races while they are there.

A guilty verdict may also be interpreted as a sign that the IAAF caved in to the boycott threats of the African nations.

“Once you start that, where will it end?” Bryant asked.

What the council can do if it finds Budd guilty is not clear. It may suspend her for as short a time as six months, thus keeping her out of the Olympics and averting a boycott. Or it may suspend her for as long as two years, long enough to discourage her from returning to international competition.

Bryant has vowed to take the case to court if the IAAF rules against Budd.

Also on the council’s agenda is the cheating scandal in the 1987 World Track Championships at Rome.

Several officials of the Italian Federation resigned last week after it had been revealed that they had cheated to ensure an Italian long jumper a bronze medal.

Some council members have asked to examine the Italian Olympic Committee’s report on the matter in an effort to determine who should be held ultimately responsible. The IAAF had previously investigated the incident but its report failed to determine that a wrong result was allowed.

To some council members, the IAAF’s integrity is on the line. “If this is true, then the athletes can no longer trust us. It is the death . . . “ said Arne Lunqvist of Sweden, one of three IAAF vice presidents.

UNITED NATIONS’ BLACKLIST OF ATHLETES

Runner Zola Budd has been added to a United Nations’ blacklist of athletes who have appeared in South Africa. The annual list, released Thursday, is issued by the United Nations Center Against Apartheid. Others on the list include:

Athlete Country Sport Seve Ballesteros Spain Golf Ian Woosnam Wales Golf Jimmy Connors United States Tennis Chris Evert United States Tennis Vitas Gerulaitis United States Tennis Brad Gilbert United States Tennis Pat Cash Australia Tennis Henri Leconte France Tennis Billie Jean King United States Tennis