African runners are still welcome in the half marathon in Trieste

On 5 may, there will be yet Africans are allowed to participate in the half marathon in Trieste. The organization decided initially, only European participants to allow them to protest against the “exploitation” of African athletes. The decision brought much criticism.

According to organiser Fabio Carini there is today “a commercial trade in African runners” who are “exploited and underpaid”. “This is unacceptable and we can no longer let pass. It is time that measures be taken. To make that clear, we have decided this year only European athletes to invite”, so it was Carini this weekend quoted in La Repubblica.

The remarkable decision was the organization a lot of criticism. Among others, mep Isabella De Monte talks about a “purification in the sport”.

“Professional athletes are denied because they are from Africa. We have to be careful, because we say it months. The situation threatens out of our hands slip and we slide down to the dark hours. On such decisions can be only one reaction: outrage. Sports is parts, one, equality, loyalty and respect. That we teach our children. But what example do we give with such decisions”, she wondered.

Also the Italian athletics federation opened an investigation.

After the criticism, made the organizer Carini known that he was on the decision returned. Indeed, it was never intended that African athletes to refuse, said Carini. The story was gone out into the world to be provocative and to draw attention to the exploitation of African athletes.

Last year the race was in Trieste won by Burundians, both for men and for women.