Arnie is taking Wayne head on!
Arnie Williams President of the IBFF Wordwide is making moves to detrone the IFBB SA as being the recognized bodybuilding federation by SASCOC.
This bold move comes just months after being invovled with a dispute with the IBFF which led to him and forming a breakaway federation IBFF Worldwide.
This is the email that was sent to Department of Sports Arts and Culture
To:
The Honourable Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture
Republic of South Africa
Private Bag X897
Pretoria 0001
Subject: Submission on the Constitutional and Legal Concerns Regarding Exclusive Recognition of IFBB SA under SASCOC
Dear Honourable Minister,
I write to you in my capacity as President of IBFF Worldwide™, on behalf of athletes, promoters, and federations in South Africa who are currently excluded from national recognition under SASCOC’s “one-code-one-body” policy.
Enclosed herewith is a detailed submission highlighting the constitutional, legal, and governance concerns arising from SASCOC’s practice of recognising only IFBB South Africa as the sole bodybuilding federation. This arrangement undermines the rights of athletes and federations under the South African Bill of Rights, specifically:
Section 18 (Freedom of Association)
Section 22 (Freedom of Trade, Occupation & Profession)
In addition, the policy raises concerns under the Competition Act, as it enables monopolistic conduct and restricts athlete choice.
We respectfully request that the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture:
1. Review SASCOC’s policy on single-federation recognition in bodybuilding;
2. Support the establishment of a multi-federation regulatory council as a neutral umbrella body for safety, anti-doping, safeguarding, and national coordination;
3. Guarantee equal recognition and developmental access for athletes across all federations.
This matter is urgent for the future of bodybuilding in South Africa. Athletes deserve fair and equal treatment, and South Africa’s sport governance framework must reflect constitutional values of freedom, fairness, and equality.
We kindly request acknowledgement of this submission and the opportunity to meet with your office to discuss the way forward.
Thank you for your attention to this matter of national sporting importance.
Arnie Williams
President
IBFF Worldwide™
Contact: 082 410 7858 | Viperpro@iafrica.com
@Gayton McKenzie
@SASCOC
@Dept of Sport and Recreation
Also In a lengthy statement posted on Facebook, this is what the bodybuilding mogul had to say.
THERE WILL BE CHANGES COMMING..
Why IFBB SA claims exclusivitySASCOC Recognition: Currently, SASCOC only recognises one federation per sport code as the official national controlling body.
In bodybuilding, that is the IFBB-affiliated body in South Africa.
This recognition gives them the exclusive “official” standing with government (grants, Lotto funding, access to the Olympic pipeline).
The Legal RealityIFBB SA is not “the law” – they are just the currently recognised federation under SASCOC.
Other federations (NABBA, PCA, IBFF, WFF, WBFF, etc.) are perfectly legal to operate in South Africa as voluntary associations or NPCs. The law does not ban other federations – it simply doesn’t give them official recognition for government sport structures or funding.
The Problem with ExclusivityExcluding all other federations creates a monopoly.
Athletes have limited rights of association, even though the Constitution guarantees freedom of association (Section 18 of the Bill of Rights).
Sponsors, promoters, and athletes are disadvantaged by fragmented systems.
Pathways Forward for a New Regulatory Authority1. Form a Controlling Council (Umbrella Model)
Instead of fighting for SASCOC recognition immediately, create a neutral council of federations (NPC or NPO). This council regulates standards, anti-doping, athlete safety, safeguarding, judging training etc.
Each federation keeps its brand but agrees to baseline governance.
2. Parallel Recognition Model
Apply for recognition with Department of Health, SAIDS, and local municipalities directly on athlete welfare grounds (medical, doping, safeguarding). This gives credibility even without SASCOC endorsement.
3. Challenge Monopoly via Law
Constitutionally, SASCOC’s one-code-one-body rule can be challenged if it creates anti-competitive monopolies or violates freedom of association.
This would require a legal opinion and potentially litigation.
4. Alternative Regulatory Registration
Register the council with CIPC as an NPC. Work with municipal event licensing authorities: any competition (IFBB or not) still needs event permits, safety, SAPS clearance, etc. If the Council integrates here, it becomes de facto recognised at the operational level, even if SASCOC ignores it.
Practical AdviceIFBB SA is correct that currently only they are SASCOC-recognised.
But they are not correct to say that “no other federation can be recognised by local authorities”.
Municipalities, Health Department, SAIDS, and Social Development can (and do) recognise multiple entities for specific functions.
Recognition ≠ exclusivity of existence.
MY OPINION? I remember watching an interview of Arnie on the Matt and Phetogo podcast where he bemoaned the fact that the IBFF are a development organisation, responsible for developing many athletes in South Africa and should be eligible for grants from goverment organisations but arent.
With Arnie now running his own worldwide federation, he needs help from government and the best way to is to challange the status qou and the monopoly that the IFBB has had on the government resources for so long.
I for one welcome this move. This then gives the IFBB and Wayne Price the opportunity to present their case as to why he thinks the IFBB are the federation that should be the ones.
