KWAZULU-NATAL Athletics (KZNA) says it has no desire to diminish the 100th running of the Comrades Marathon after a dispute between the body and the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) made headlines in recent weeks.

This stems from reports suggesting that KZNA had threatened legal action, saying the race dates for next year’s 100th running of the iconic race had not been approved.

There were also reports that the 2027 edition of the Comrades Marathon would not go ahead.

Related article: 100th Comrades Marathon to go ahead despite legal threat

KZNA has now requested that the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture in KZN and the President of the KZN Sports Confederation mediate matters to find a resolution.

“The current dispute concerns governance and the future relationship between the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), KZNA and Athletics SA (ASA),” the provincial body said in a statement.

“In particular, the parties must resolve whether and how the race will operate as an officially recognised athletics event using federation licences, competition rules, technical officials, results systems, records, rankings, qualifying pathways and related athlete protections. KZNA acknowledges that the legal ability to organise a public road event and the separate question of official recognition within the athletics federation system are not identical.”

Also read: Comrades organisers call for help to decide centenary slogan

The athletics body added that it ‘confine’ its communication until mediation has been attempted.

The news comes a week after the Comrades Marathon Association confirmed the race date for next year’s centenary event.

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