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Files Show Zola Budd Fast-Track Citizenship Row Split Government

A campaign to fast-track British citizenship for South African runner Zola Budd triggered a major Government rift, previously unseen files reveal.

In 1984 the teenager was regarded as a running sensation, setting a world record for the 5,000m aged just 17.

But athletics authorities refused to recognise the achievement as South Africa was excluded from international competition because of apartheid.

In an attempt to get around the boycott, the Daily Mail encouraged Budd's father to urge her to apply for British citizenship, by virtue of her paternal grandfather being British, so she could compete in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

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But behind the scenes there were serious concerns that pushing through such an application would lead to accusations Budd was being singled out for special treatment, that the Government was being "railroaded" and that such a move would undermine Britain's anti-apartheid stance.

Files released by the National Archives at Kew, west London, reveal wrangling over the affair went all the way up to secretary of state level, with letters from then-foreign secretary Geoffrey Howe to home secretary Leon Brittan - copied to prime minister Margaret Thatcher - showing his frustration.

A draft letter from Mr Howe to Mr Brittan in March 1984 said: "I think the consequences for the Government could be very damaging if we laid ourselves open to the charge that this young girl was receiving special treatment, gifted and exceptional though she may be."

The letter warned the move could lead to withdrawals by other countries from the Olympics and the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, and suggested it would undermine the Gleneagles agreement, a Commonwealth pact discouraging sporting contact with South Africa.

It added: "To give exceptional treatment to a South African national to enable her to avoid the sporting restrictions inflicted on her country and compete for Britain in the Olympics will be seen as a cynical move which will undermine that good faith.

"We will be open to charges by South Africa of double standards and duplicity."

The files reveal a number of concerns from the Foreign Office about the case, with South African officials being inundated with immigration inquiries from other people with similar claims on citizenship to Budd.

Mr Howe urged Mr Brittan "to avoid giving the appearance of an unseemly rush" over a decision and pleaded with him to delay it.

Despite Mr Howe's pleas, the Home Secretary pressed ahead.

Budd registered as a British citizen in April 1984 and received a passport.

She eventually ran for Great Britain in the 3,000m in Los Angeles - where she tangled with the American Mary Decker in one of the most famous moments in Olympic history.

The clash was the subject of a Sky Atlantic documentary, The Fall, which brought the two athletes together to talk about the incident.