ATHLETICS South Africa under Leonard Chuene treated athletes much better than the current interim administration.

ATHLETICS South Africa under Leonard Chuene treated athletes much better than the current interim administration.

This is the view of Concerned Athletes' representative Sam Mlangeni, who accuses the ASA interim leaders of treating athletes with disdain. Mlangeni's outburst comes after ASA decided to ban the athletes' commission from taking part in a special general meeting on Saturday.

The meeting was turned into an "information session" after some of the athletics structures threatened to form a rival body.

Mlangeni said: "When the interim board of ASA was elected, we were happy, hoping that it would help to develop our athletes and not kill our sports. Athletics was better under Leonard Chuene and his board, who assisted the athletes and provincial structures. We are very disappointed with the interim board because they are clueless on how to help in development.

"We are also disappointed to hear that the board wants to amend the constitution."

Mlangeni said they would challenge the proposed move to sell ASA House in Houghton and relocate the headquarters to Stellenbosch or Potchefstroom.

"The headquarters will be in Johannesburg. We need the intervention of the government and the sooner Butana Komphela (chairperson of the portfolio committee on sport and recreation) intervenes the better."

Mlangeni also warned ASA to stop interfering in the running of Athletics Griqualand West and using the Northern Cape Sports Council to silence veteran administrator Loretta Marthinus.