Semenya doc in loan row with Maties

President Jacob Zuma's doctor, a candidate for the presidency of Athletics South Africa, is embroiled in a scandal over a R2.5-million loan.

Dr Harold Adams is at the centre of a dispute between the University of Stellenbosch and the Boland Athletics Federation, of which he is president, over a loan to upgrade a track.

The track belongs to the Maties Athletics Club, an affiliate of the Boland federation, which required the upgrade to enable it to host international events.

The money was to have been reimbursed to the university once a Lotto grant to the federation had been paid out.

The non-payment, which runs over several years, has resulted in a nasty war of words between Adams and the university.

Adams, who is involved in the ASA leadership scrap set to take place on July 30, has also been accused by vice-rector Professor Julian Smith of avoiding meetings and not honouring the agreement.

He, in turn, has accused the university of racism.

Adams was the medic involved in the Caster Semenya gender-testing scandal.

In letters between senior athletics officials over the past two years:

• Lotto officials are accused of supplying false information to a Boland Athletics Federation's general meeting;
• Senior ASA officials have claimed Adams is "untouchable" and being protected by friends in Sascoc; and
• Questions have been raised over Adams as the only ASA official never to be disciplined over the Semenya saga.

In letters between Adams and Smith, accusations of racism and dodgy Lotto funding applications have also been made.

The university granted the loan for the upgrading of the track in 2005, which it claims was supposed to have been paid back once the federation had received its Lotto funding.

Although the federation has been awarded over R5-million from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, the university hasn't been reimbursed.

In a letter to the ASA dated June 1 2009, Smith wrote that "Dr Harold Adams ... was personally involved in the negotiations", adding that although the federation received cash from the Lotto in 2008, the university had not been repaid.

Smith complained about Adams accusing athletics officials of racism and of failing to attend meetings, and demanded a written apology.

But Adams said in a letter to then ASA president Leonard Chuene that he could not attend certain meetings as he was on official duty with President Zuma at the time.

He accused the university of failing to embrace transformation and accused senior officials of racism and being "elitist".

As elections draw closer, two senior ASA members have complained that Adams was also never disciplined over the Semenya drama.

A board member who asked not to be named said: "It appears Harold has become untouchable. You had Caster, the fight over the Lotto money and the fact he was a board member under Chuene, yet he has gotten away. Who is protecting him?"

Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy said: "In the matter of Dr Harold Adams, the report shows the doctor as having carried out his duties. He was questioned and gave evidence."

Spokesman Sershan Naidoo confirmed the National Lottery Board was aware of the dispute with Maties, adding that the federation had received grants of R3.8-million in 2008 and R1.9-million in 2010.

Adams said the matter was sub judice and he could not comment. Smith could not be reached. His office said he was on sabbatical until October.

A University of Stellenbosch spokesman said the matter of the unpaid loan "is currently under litigation, but the parties have identified an opportunity to reach a mutually acceptable resolution to this matter".