"Runners will not need to be in possession of an ASA license" - CMA Chair Mark Leathers speaks on Comrades vs ASA saga

Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Chairperson Mark Leathers has revealed that runners will no longer be required to have a valid Athletics South Africa (ASA) permanent licence to take part in The Ultimate Human Race. Leathers was speaking at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban yesterday (19 August) after the launch of the 2027 race, which will be the 100th running of the world's oldest ultra marathon.

"For the 2027 race, runners will not need to be in possession of an ASA license. The qualification remains the same though. Most runners will run ASA or provincially sanctioned races in order to qualify for Comrades. Practically, this means that runners will have many ways to qualify for the race," he told the media.

Leathers was answering questions related to the standoff between the CMA and the national governing body of athletics in the country, ASA, after the latter issued a statement on the eve of the launch distancing themselves from the country's most popular road running event.

"Athletics South Africa (ASA) wishes to advise its Member Federations, affiliated clubs, athletes, technical officials, partners and the public that the 100th Comrades Marathon is not sanctioned by Athletics South Africa."

CMA Chairperson and vice chairperson Mark Leathers and Nontuthuko Mashimane. Photo Credit: CMA Media.

"This position follows the failure of the event organisers (Comrades Marathon Association) to recognise and comply with the governance and regulatory framework governing athletics. Despite extensive engagements undertaken in good faith by Athletics South Africa and its member federation, KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA), the organisers have not satisfied the requirements necessary for sanctioning under the constitution, rules and regulations of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics, Athletics South Africa and World Athletics," read a statement released by ASA on 18 August.

This statement came in the wake of the decision taken by CMA Members at a Special General Meeting earlier this month. On 1 August, CMA Members attended a Special General Meeting where they voted to go it alone, refusing to reaffiliate to KwaZulu-Natal Athletics following a lengthy legal battle with the provincial federation. Leathers, who is a lawyer by profession, argues that ASA's decision will have little material effect on the race which is scheduled for June 13, 2027.

"The ASA fixture list has come out without the Comrades Marathon on it because the federation says the race is an unsanctioned event. From the CMA's side, we don't see this as negative at all. Remember that the fixtures are designed to avoid competing races happening on the same day. But I don't think there is any race in South Africa or rest of the world that can compete with Comrades or will schedule their race on the same day as ours."

28 000 runners are expected to take part in the 100th edition of The Ultimate Human Race on 13 June 2027. Photo Credit: CMA Media.

Yet despite their decision to forge ahead without the blessing of both ASA and KZNA, Leathers says they are still open to resolving the impasse by finding a mutually beneficial solution that is in the best interest of the 28 000 runners who will take on next year's Comrades Marathon as well as the sport of road running in general.

"We have engaged with both KZNA and ASA to find a way forward, but neither of them have replied to that correspondence. For ASA or KZNA to try to penalize 28 000 runners for running Comrades by sanctioning them would destroy road running in South Africa. The CMA remains committed to engaging with all it's stakeholders including the federations, but our members gave us clear direction that the relationship will no longer be one-sided. The federation needs to figure out what they bring into the table."

KZNA confirmed to #TheTopRunner that they are in the process of sending a delegation to meet with the CMA.