The season had been in jeopardy after numerous problems affecting Athletics South Africa (ASA), including the controversy over Caster Semenya, had prevented the sponsor from signing a new contract after the previous deal ended last season.

Yellow Pages agreed the new sponsorship at a meeting in Houghton today and are expected to officially sign the contract tomorrow, when full details ot this year's events will also be revealed.

ASA faced the prospect of having to abandon its high-profile Southern Hemisphere season, in which athletes like Britain's Dame Kelly Holmes had previously participated, because of its financial problems, which came to light after President Leonard Chuene and the rest of the Board were forced to resign in the wake of the Semenya scandal.

A new interim Board, under the leadership of Ray Mali, the former President of the International Cricket Council, has helped restore the confidence of Yellow Pages.

Negotiations have also reopened with Nedbank, a major sponsor of road running in South Africa and who also withdrew after the Semenya affair, in which it emerged that Chuene knew there were doubts about her gender before she won the 800 metres at the World Championships in Berlin last August but covered it up and then lied.


Related stories
December 2009: We have stablised ASA, claims Mali
November 2009: South African athletics must focus on London 2012 says Mali
November 2009: ASA living from month-to-month admits Mali
November 2009: ASA general secretary escorted from building by police
November 2009: Former ICC President to oversee Athletics South Africa