CONFUSION reigns supreme at Athletics South Africa ahead of the potentially explosive meeting on July 30 to elect a president and deputy of the mother body.

A meeting called by ASA chairperson James Evans and presidential nominees on Monday night in Johannesburg was cancelled after most board members snubbed it. Of the eight board members only Cape Town-based Evans, Blanche Moila from Durban and William Fourie from Bloemfontein, who were flown to Johan- nesburg by the cash-strapped federation, attended.

Approached for comment yesterday, Evans said: "It's a bit of shambles now. I called a board meeting so that we could discuss the agenda for the July 30 meeting but board members did not attend and therefore we could not proceed with the meeting (as they did not form a quorum). Elections are taking place but there are some objections from certain provinces."

The ninth ASA board member is joint national 400m record-holder Arnaud Marlhebe, who is still suspended by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.

Board members who did not attend the meeting complained that Evans invited them as if they were employed full-time by ASA.

"I'm an educator and there was no way I could have attended that meeting at such short notice," said board member Motlatsi Keikabile, who is a school principal in Rustenburg.

Another board member, who asked not to be identified, said: "There is a cold war developing here and some people are no longer on talking terms. The problem is that most board members are eying the two positions of president and deputy president. Some have submitted motions to prevent others from standing."

The ASA positions of president and deputy became vacant after Leonard Chuene and Kakata Maponyane were banned by Sascoc.