POSTED: September 20th 2009

NewsUpdate

Minister demands Chuene sacking

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT / Sports Features Communications

PRETORIA: South Africa’s athletics bosses have been told to sack president Leonard Chuene after he admitted lying about runner Caster Semenya's gender tests.

Gert Oosthuizen, Deputy Sports Minister, spoke up after Chuene admitted he had lied in denying any knowledge of gender tests carried out on the runner in South Africa before her 800m world title win in August.

Oosthuizen said: “If the people in Athletics South Africa do not come to the necessary conclusion then they run the risk of being led by a liar." He added that his ministry had twice requested a report from Chuene on events before, during and after Berlin, but had received nothing in return.

Chuene had owned up on Saturday that he had lied to the South African public about his knowledge of the tests, conducted on Semenya in Pretoria on August 7.

Perpetual denial

Oosthuizen added: “Mr Chuene has not only lied to us as the ministry, but to the whole country, and this is not acceptable. We are convinced that the perpetual denial of knowledge of these tests has fuelled the continuous violation of Ms Semenya's rights and dignity, by foreign and some local media. We are of the view that his lies were to Ms Semenya's detriment."

The call for Chuene’s departure was echoed by South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance. Spokesman Donald Lee said Chuene had seriously damaged South Africa's image.

Semenya won the world title in Berlin in a personal best of 1:55.45, two seconds clear of defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei. The international federation, the IAAF, then ordered more tests which are believed likely to show that Semenya has an intersex status, exhibiting both male and female sex characteristics.

Keywords · Semenya · ASA · Oosthuizen · Chuene · IAAF

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