Tamil Nadu athletes competing in the 29th Junior National Athletics Championships had a scare when the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) contemplated barring them from competing here for the State association’s support for an unrecognised marathon last Sunday.
The AFI had said it had not recognised the Chennai Marathon and had warned participants of stern action. However, the event went through with support of the State association.
“We initially thought we would bar the Tamil Nadu athletes from competing here as punishment but then decided not to go ahead as it would have hurt the athletes who were not at fault,” said C K Valson, secretary of the AFI. “The TN issue will be discussed at our meeting before we decide on further action,” he said.
AFI has been concerned about the mushrooming road races and had laid down conditions for their recognition a couple of years ago. Valson said a request for approval of the Bangalore Midnight Marathon, scheduled for December 14, has come before the federation and a decision will be taken soon.
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