The country's university track and field and road running athletes could be the first to feel the brunt of the sanctions placed on Athletics SA (ASA), the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) confirmed on Tuesday.

Sascoc president Gideon Sam said the athletics contingent had been barred from competing in next month's World Student Games in Kazan, Russia, next month, though negotiations were still open for their participation.

"We have a crisis with the athletes in this team," Sam said after the squad was announced for the biennial multi-sport event.

"We as a (Sascoc) board believe we need to be consistent when it comes to the participation of the athletes."

Sam said Sascoc had held a last-minute meeting with USSA in Johannesburg before the team was announced, and while Sascoc stood firm on its sanctions against the athletics contingent, they would continue negotiations. He was unclear as to what USSA needed to achieve to change the minds of the Sascoc board members.

"If this means it is the downfall of Sascoc then so be it," he said.

"If we have to sleep in this building (Olympic House) to resolve this issue, then we will do that, but as it stands, we do not support this athletics team."

Sascoc suspended ASA, and all athletes registered to the federation, at the weekend.

South Africa will send a team of 93 to compete across 11 sports at the World Student Games.

- SAPA.