IT NEVER rains but it pours for Athletics South Africa. ASA's most senior interim board member, Hendrick Ramaala, resigned yesterday just five months after he was elected.

IT NEVER rains but it pours for Athletics South Africa. ASA's most senior interim board member, Hendrick Ramaala, resigned yesterday just five months after he was elected.

Ramaala had been contemplating resigning for almost two months, citing the interim ASA administration's failure to consult board members before taking decisions.

"I have had enough of the current administration of ASA. It is unfortunate that I had to leave because we are not making any impact as board members," Ramaala said yesterday.

"I find it strange that they have decided to issue a media statement to announce my resignation, which is unprofessional. They sent out a statement without even calling a board meeting to discuss the matter.

"I was surprised a decision was taken last month to postpone the elections without some of us discussing the matter. All that I can say is that the future of athletics is bleak.

"The problem is that people are obsessed with (former ASA president) Leonard Chuene."

Sowetan has also learnt that board members are unhappy that interim board chief Ray Mali is handling the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) gender verification tests on Caster Semenya without involving them.

Mali rejected the accusations by Ramaala, saying everybody had been informed about the postponement of the elections.

On engaging the IAAF without involving the board, Mali said: "That's within my rights."