Athletics South Africa (ASA) said on Tuesday that Comrades Marathon champion Vladimir Kotov should never have been awarded the R65 000 prize for the first South African home, because he is not a SA citizen.
Kotov was applauded when he declined the prize and instead presented it to Willie Mtolo who finished fourth in the race on June 16.
”Kotov is not a South African citizen,” said Banele Sindani, CEO of ASA. ”He is only a permanent resident. He can therefore not win the prize as first South African, because he is not a South African.”
Kotov, who comes from Belarus and lives in Cape Town, said that he became a South African citizen recently. – Sapa