AFFILIATION TUSSLE: Athletics SA refuses to sanction centenary Comrades Marathon

The custodian of South African athletics says that if the 2027 Comrades Marathon proceeds under the current status quo, with the Comrades Marathon Association not affiliated to KZN Athletics, next year’s centenary race will not be officially sanctioned. In spite of this, the 100th race of the ultra marathon was officially launched on Wednesday, 19 August.

The twisting and turning saga of the 2027 Comrades Marathon , which will be the centenary of the “Ultimate Human Race”, seems far from being resolved. The latest page in this controversial chapter of the 100th Comrades edition came with Athletics South Africa (ASA) issuing a statement in which the national athletics body distanced itself from next year’s race.

According to the ASA, its stance follows the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA’s) failure to “recognise and comply with the governance and regulatory framework governing athletics”. The custodian of South African athletics said it had reached this point through it and KwaZulu-Natal Athletics not finding common ground with the CMA hierarchy.

“The World Athletics Constitution provides in Article 7.3 that: “There shall only be one member federation from any one country or territory.” The ASA is the recognised World Athletics member federation for South Africa,” the ASA said in a statement.

“Athletics South Africa fully supports KwaZulu-Natal Athletics in the execution of its constitutional and regulatory responsibilities as the duly recognised provincial member federation responsible for the administration and governance of athletics within KwaZulu-Natal,” the ASA stated.

“As the national governing body for athletics in South Africa, Athletics South Africa has a responsibility to ensure that all athletics and road running events are conducted within a consistent governance framework, and in compliance with the applicable rules, regulations and standards. These requirements apply equally to all event organisers and cannot be selectively applied or disregarded,” the ASA said.

“Athletics South Africa confirms that the 100th Comrades Marathon has not been authorised or sanctioned through KwaZulu-Natal Athletics and formally distances itself from the organisation, administration and conduct of the event. Athletics South Africa remains committed to the protection of athletes, clubs, officials and stakeholders and regulatory compliance throughout the sport,” the ASA said.

Shutting out these ASA utterances, the CMA officially launched the 2027 centenary edition of the iconic ultra marathon. It will be run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban and is scheduled for 13 June 2027.

The launch was held at the Kings Park Rugby Stadium in Durban, with the Kings Park sport precinct announced as the finish venue for next year’s event. A maximum of 28,000 entrants are expected for the 100th edition of the race.

The Comrades Marathon was first run in 1921, and has taken place nearly every year since, except during World War 2 (1941-45) and the two years during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021). The 2027 edition of the race will not only be the 100th edition overall, but also the 50th edition of the traditional Down Run route.