Budd’s Fate Is Still to Be Determined : Council Puts Off Making a Decision on Eligibility of Runner Until Today

The sporting world was waiting, along with runner Zola Budd Friday, but despite a daylong council meeting, the International Amateur Athletic Federation failed to make a decision regarding Budd’s eligibility.

The IAAF will announce its decision today regarding the future of Budd, who has been accused of watching a cross-country race in South Africa. The 23 council members must decide if watching a race violates IAAF Rule 53i, which states that any athlete “taking part” in a race in South Africa may become ineligible.

Never before has the rule been interpreted so broadly as to include watching a race.

Budd was suspended by the IAAF in March, pending an investigation of the incident. 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.

Budd, who had qualified for the British team, pulled out of the competition.

Budd, 21, left her native South Africa in 1984, became a British citizen and was able to represent Britain in the Los Angeles Olympic Games. South Africa is banned from Olympic competition because of its policy of apartheid, or racial separation.

The scene at Budd’s hearing was better suited for Hollywood than London. After the media had waited for 10 hours, an IAAF spokesperson announced the non-decision shortly after 7 p.m.

The council meeting started at 9 a.m., but the group didn’t begin to discuss Budd’s case until 2:30 p.m.

About 50 radio, television and newspaper reporters camped out in the lobby of the Park Lane Hotel, where the council was meeting, while outside an anti-apartheid group picketed Budd.

As early as one hour before the meeting, the sidewalk in front of the hotel was jammed with photographers and television crews. The scene stopped traffic in the busy Piccadilly section of London as tourists gawked at what must have looked like a Royal visit.

British track officials shuttled in and out of the closed meeting room throughout the afternoon. Budd and her coach, John Bryant, were secluded in a suite in the hotel and were not called before the council.

Tony Ward, a spokesman for the British Amateur Athletic Board, described Budd as “stoic” after a day of waiting.

“She’s had four years of this; she’s very patient,” he said.

Thursday, Budd was added to the United Nations blacklist, which consists of sports and entertainment figures who travel and work in South Africa.

If it finds Budd violated the rules, the council could suspend her for as long as it sees fit, presumably at least until after the Olympics at Seoul, South Korea, beginning Sept. 17.