CONCERNED Athletes have refused to be intimidated by Athletics South Africa's interim structure for speaking out on issues pertaining to the running of the sport.

CONCERNED Athletes have refused to be intimidated by Athletics South Africa's interim structure for speaking out on issues pertaining to the running of the sport.

This was after the ASA resolved at a meeting on Saturday to take action against athletes who speak out in public without the permission of the executive committee.

The ASA said in a statement that its athletes commission was the only legitimate structure to issue statements on matters affecting athletes.

"We take strong exception to the statement by ASA and we will not keep quiet when our noble sport is going down the drain," said Concerned Athletes representative Sam Mlangeni.

"I don't have a problem with Ray Mali (ASA interim administrator), but we won't allow athletics to be run like a homeland where decisions are imposed on people.

"We are going to have a meeting with athletes on May 15 to discuss the current state of affairs in athletics and map the way forward."

In a statement, Mali said: "At the meeting the athletes commission called for punitive measures to be taken by the provinces against athletes who raise their views publicly on behalf of the athletes commission though they are not supposed to do so."

Retorted Mlangeni: "We don't even know about the formation of any of the commissions by ASA's interim structure, including the one representing athletes. What I know is that Tebogo Masehla and Cindy Steward were the only athletes who attended that brainstorming session.

"Ruben Ramolefi and Hezekiel Sepeng did not attend that meeting. Athletics is not cricket. We are going to fight for the development of athletics."