Daley Thompson Attacks IAAF Ruling, Calls for Britain to Support Budd

LONDON —  Daley Thompson, Britain’s often outspoken 2-time Olympic decathlon champion, accused the International Amateur Athletic Federation Wednesday of “cheating” to get South African-born Zola Budd removed from the Seoul Olympics.

Thompson, interviewed in California by the British Broadcasting Corp., attacked the IAAF’s decision to call for her suspension.

“I believe the IAAF is cheating. They are changing the rules in order to make the ends meet,” he said. “They can change the rules at any time in order to get anybody out of track and field.”

Thompson said the British Amateur Athletic Board should back Budd in the dispute and seek support from other IAAF member countries, adding: “We should give her the same treatment that we would give any other British person and defend her to the hilt. From all I’ve read and heard she’s done nothing wrong.”