R1 billion Comrades Marathon in South Africa under fire
Athletics South Africa (ASA) has announced that it is distancing itself from the Comrades Marathon and will not include it in official race calendars.
The association said the decision is due to the event organisers failing to comply with governance and regulatory frameworks.
Despite repeated discussions, ASA decided that the Comrades event organisers had not satisfied the requirements for an event to be sanctioned.
“The organisers have not satisfied the requirements necessary for sanctioning under the constitution, rules and regulations of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics, Athletics South Africa and World Athletics,” ASA said.
On 1 August 2026, members of the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) voted not to affiliate with either the ASA or KZN Athletics (KZNA).
The CMA argued that there is no legal requirement for the event to be affiliated with these groups and that it can be run independently.
“We are confident that we have the resources, experience, and commitment to continue presenting a world-class event,” said CMA chairman, Mark Leathers.
ASA said that the association had a duty to ensure that all events in South Africa are governed by a consistent framework, without exception.
“As the national governing body for athletics in South Africa, Athletics South Africa has a responsibility to ensure that all athletics and road running events are conducted within a consistent governance framework, and in compliance with the applicable rules, regulations and standards,” it said.
“These requirements apply equally to all event organisers and cannot be selectively applied or disregarded.”
“Athletics South Africa confirms that the 100th Comrades Marathon has not been authorised or sanctioned through KwaZulu-Natal Athletics and formally distances itself from the organisation, administration and conduct of the event.”
The Comrades Marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in South Africa and has a global reputation for its difficulty and long history.
The 2027 event will mark the 100th Comrades Marathon, a major milestone for the competition, which contributes significantly to the surrounding economy.
The 2026 Comrades event is estimated to have contributed approximately R1 billion in economic value, with R210 million in direct visitor spending.
The event boosts the tourism industry in KwaZulu-Natal, with a large number of international and domestic visitors.
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