Olympic committee suspend athletics head

Thu, Nov 5 09:57 PM

Enlarge Photo Athletics South Africa (ASA) President Leonard Chuene smiles during the arrival of South Africa's teenage...

South Africa's Olympic body has suspended the president, board and members of Athletics South Africa over the handling of 800 metres world champion Caster Semenya's gender tests.

In a statement on their website (www.sascoc.co.za), SASCOC said: "The suspended individuals will appear before a disciplinary enquiry to answer charges of bringing ASA, the sport of athletics, SASCOC and sport in general into disrepute."

SASCOC added it was also considering taking action against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) "for its disregard of Semenya's rights to privacy".

Semenya, 18, ran a personal best of one minute 56.72 seconds in July, eight seconds faster than her best time last year.

Because of her rapid improvement, the IAAF began a gender verification process prior to August's world championships in Berlin but Semenya was allowed to compete pending the outcome of the tests.

The teenager destroyed the field to take the 800 gold in 1:55.45, the fastest time of the year.

No decision on the tests is expected until later this month but the IAAF has declined to comment on a report in Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper in September which said Semenya had both male and female sexual characteristics.

The IAAF's decision to test Semenya, who returned home to a hero's welcome, angered many South Africans with some accusing the sport's governing body of racism, saying her broad shoulders and striking musculature were common in women's athletics.

It was subsequently disclosed that ASA conducted gender verification tests on Semenya in South Africa before she competed in Berlin.

ASA President Leonard Chuene initially denied the tests had taken place before admitting he had lied, saying he wanted to protect the athlete's privacy.

In an apology to Semenya on Thursday, ASA said: "Athletics South Africa wishes to publicly and unconditionally apologise to Caster Semenya and her family, the president of South Africa as well as to all South Africans for the handling of her gender verification processes and the subsequent aftermath."

The apology followed an African National Congress (ANC) statement last month which said it thought the ASA and its doctor had a case to answer.

(Reporting by Jason Humphries in Durban; Editing by Alison Wildey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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