Athletics officials defy Minister Mitali

TWO weeks after the national athletics federation executive committee was dissolved by its General Assembly and advised by the National Olympic committee and ministry of sports to heed those directives, the officials are still occupying their positions. The committee led by Supt. Gerard Ntare, was suspended for two months pending investigations over accusations and counter accusations between top officials in federation over mismanagement of over Rwf 8m meant for the Kigali International marathon in May. In the General Assembly meeting held at Amahoro stadium last month, an interim committee led by Alexander Kayitsinga was set up to manage the federation’s activities but up now, Ntare and his team have not vacated office. When Times Sport tried to raise him over the phone yesterday, for the umpteenth time, Ntare said he was in a meeting and referred this reporter to the vice President Louis Rurangirwa. Rurangirwa claimed to have explained to Sports Minister Protais Mitali and National Olympic committee Col. Dr. Charles Rudakubana their reasons for not leaving office but did not give any details. “We met with the Sports Minister and Olympic committee boss and explained to them our reasons for not leaving office and they understood our position,” Rurangirwa said. However Sports minister Protais Mitali denied accepting the committee’s continued stay in office. “I did not at any one time allow them to stay in their positions,” Mitali said yesterday. The officials’ continued stay in office has also seen them withdraw US$ 14700 (about Rwf 8.5m) from the federation’s coffers. Ends