Banned and bewildered

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 41, 3 April 1984, Page 1

Banned and bewildered

Siggy Bauer, Raetihi's remarkable ultra-distance runner, is 'disappointed' that he should have learned about his banning by the New Zealand Amateur Athletics Association through the media 28 days after the NZAAA had made their decision. "That is no way to treat an athlete and a fully paid up member of the NZAAA, "he said last week following the nationwide publicity which first brought him the news through press and TV coverage. "The NZAAA sat in judgement and made their decision without consulting me, asking me for an explanation or even informing me of their decision until 28 days later ... and then they only hurriedly sent me a letter once they realised that the news media had got hold of the story," he said. "And why have they done this to me? Because, after running 1,000 miles for 16 hours a day over 12 days in Colac, Australia I accepted a cheque for $2000 ... which wasn't even enough to cover my expenses!" "This so-called amateur status is such a hypocrisy — other athletes earn the equivalent of big money through university scholarships, supportive business employers, commercial sponsors and, in some countries, are even inducted into well paid military forces simply to preserve their 'amateur' status while they

do their own thing," said a bitter and disillusioned Siggy Bauer last week. "I'm about the only true amateur left but because I'm not a well-known athlete in one of the glamour sports I'm given the big stick treatment while other higher profile athletes receive all the accolades." cont 'd p. 3

Siggy Bauer contd from p.l "When I rah the Colac 1000 mile race I thought it had been sanctioned by the governing body of the Australian amateur association but it wasn't." "If it had been I would have been allowed to receive the $2000 under the 18month old NZAAA ruling that payments can be made to athletes for a sanctioned event." The treatment Siggy has received from the NZAAA doesn't surprise him altogether though. "They haven't done anything for ultradistance running ... last year I wrote seven letters to them seeking support but I didn't receive a single reply!" "And now they do this to me without any consultation and I learn of their decision only when a reporter for an Auckland newspaper phones me for my reaction! It's a verdict without a trial and I was given no opportunity to ^Jiave my side of the story i^Bbard." Siggy who has been invited to run in two races in the UK and one in America later this year will have to wait and see what effect the imposition of this ban has on his future running career. There is no doubt he will receive the whole-hearted support of the Waimarino community in this lonely and demanding sport. His sincerity and dedication, as well as his physical and moral courage, is beyond doubt. Ironically, he withdrew from next month's Sydney-Melbourne race because he believed the sponsors were more concerned with the commer•lism generated by the :nt than with a genuine interest in the sport. In making this decision a month ago he forfeited a chance of winning $20,000!