No victory for Segodi as rules are rules

– Though he sympathised with the athlete, Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) president James Moloi said yesterday that rules could not be bent after Raphael Segodi was stripped of the national marathon title.

Segodi was disqualified shortly after crossing the line well clear of his nearest opponent at the Durban City Marathon, which incorporated the SA Championships over the 42km distance.

He led from start to finish in a brave front-running effort, but after falling at the start he said he had lost his licence number.

Though he ran with it in his hand, the race referees scratched him from the results for not having it pinned to the front of his vest when he crossed the line.

“I started with my licence on but I fell. Someone tried to help me by holding me and they pulled off my licence,” Segodi said.

While his Central Gauteng provincial team filed an appeal, the decision was upheld.

“They said in the appeal hearing that he should have stopped and asked someone to put the number back on for him,” said Moloi, also the Athletics SA road running commission chairman.

“CGA appealed but they did not win. At the end of the day, rules are rules.”

Due to the decision, Anele Dlamini was crowned national champion, despite finishing four minutes off the pace in 2:22:23.

Duane Fortuin earned the silver medal, 37sec further back.

Danette Smith won the national women’s title in 2:54:59.

Elsewhere yesterday, former national champion Desmond Mokgobu finished 12th at the Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands, clocking 2:10:51 to clip 42 seconds off his personal best set in Cape Town last year.

Three-time winner Lusapho April settled for fifth place at the Hannover Marathon in Germany in 2:11:41.