FRIDAY, 10.30AM:
ALL-Africa pole vault record holder Okkert Brits has been suspended from competing in Friday night’s European indoor meeting in Germany after Athletics South Africa informed the International Amateur Athletics Federation that he is on SA’s team to take on Russia in a Test match in Pretoria on Saturday and therefore does not have ASA’s blessing to compete in Germany.
Brits’s management claim he was never formally informed of his inclusion in the national team, and Brits himself has recently stated he will not return home from the European indoor season.
Should Brits return, the possibility exists that he might sue ASA for loss of earnings relating to potential winnings from jumping in Germany.
ASA secretary-general Banele Sindani has confirmed that Brits has been suspended from Friday night’s German meeting, but said ASA has not applied to have him barred from Sunday night’s indoor meeting in Belgium.