World Athletics has told Athletics South Africa (ASA) to remove its suspended president, James Moloi, at once. The global body also gave ASA a nine-month plan to change its constitution, IOL reported.
The order came in a formal letter sent from Monaco. World Athletics warned that if ASA fails to carry out the main reforms within six months, it will face a provisional suspension.
Such a suspension would fall under Article 13 of the World Athletics Constitution. This rule lets the global body suspend member federations that fail to follow proper standards of governance and integrity.
A suspension under Article 13 takes away a federation’s international rights. Its athletes would not be able to compete, earn ranking points or set recognised records.
According to IOL, a ban would stop South African athletes from being picked for national teams or running under the flag. It would also keep them out of the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
The report said a ban would also freeze entry pathways for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Moloi was suspended in October 2025. This followed a forensic audit by Forvis Mazars, a global audit and advisory network.
The audit found misuse of an ASA company credit card across 399 transactions. These took place between May 2023 and April 2024.
It listed more than R300,000 in spending that was not approved. The card went over its monthly limit in nine out of 12 months.
The audit named purchases of personal clothing, a cash withdrawal at an ATM and hospitality receipts that were not explained.
Southern African athletics chief Zakhele Dlamini then led an inquiry. After that, retired Judge Basheer Waglay chaired an independent disciplinary hearing.
The Waglay panel found Moloi guilty of financial misconduct. It recommended that he be removed from office immediately.
World Athletics later backed the panel’s findings. It told ASA to carry out Moloi’s dismissal without delay.
The nine-month plan asks for more than his removal. ASA must rewrite its constitution and give decision-making power back to its Supreme Council.
The federation must also end conflicts in provincial voting and set strict term limits. Women and active athletes must have seats on the board.
The warning comes as South African athletes have been winning medals in junior and senior events. A team started by Bayanda Walaza and finished by Akani Simbine won 4x100m relay silver at the Paris Olympics.
Walaza went on to win gold in both the 100m and 200m at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima.
Sinesipho Dambile in the 200m and Zakithi Nene in the 400m have also competed strongly on the international circuit, IOL reported.
Prudence Sekgodiso is the World Indoor 800m champion. On the road, Tayla Kavanagh ran 30:50 in Romania to break the national 10km record.
Kavanagh became the first South African woman to run 10km in under 31 minutes. Under the World Athletics warning, ASA has six months to complete the core reforms before a suspension is triggered.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.