Zola decision to strip her of title unfair
Celebrated long distance runner, Zola Budd Pieterse believes the decision to strip her of her veteran's title from last week's Comrades Marathon is a double standard.
The 48-year old finished 7th overall in the women's race and was the first veteran woman runner to cross the finish line.
Comrades Marathon officials say she is not eligible for the title because she didn't display her age category tag properly - as per race rules.
Budd has told Newswatch from her home in the U.S there were others who made the same error but she was the only one penalised.
"If I didn't wear the tags and that's the rule, that's fine I accept that. But what I am upset about is that the girl they put third also didn't have tags as well as the second girl and she is still in the results so the girl that's officially third at the moment should actually be the number one because she is the only one who ran with tags.
"So I think if they want to apply this rule, they should apply it throughout the awards and apply to all runners and not just me. And that's what I am upset about,"she said.
The Association's told Newswatch earlier that it stands by the decision. Click here for more.
(File photo: Gallo Images)