By Duncan Mackay

September 20 - South Africa’s Governments wants Athletics South Africa (ASA) President Leonard Chuene (pictured) to be sacked after he admitted yesterday that he had lied about his knowledge of Caster Semenya’s gender tests.



Deputy Sports Minister Gert Oosthuizen said: "Chuene has not only lied to us as at the Ministry, but to the whole country.

"We now request the membership of Athletics South Africa to not only take disciplinary action against Chuene, but to fire him."
 

As insidethegames reported yesterday, Chuene admitted he was aware Semenya had undergone gender tests before she travelled to Berlin last month for the World Championships, where she won the gold medal in the 800 metres.
 

Oosthuizen said: "We are saddened that Chuene took no-one into his confidence, and we urge ASA to get their house in order, and act in the best interest of sport."

Tests undertaken by the world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), reportedly discovered that Semenya is a hermaphrodite. 

The African National Congress, South Africa's ruling party, said that is “disgusted” by the handling of the Semenya case, both by the ASA and the IAAF, ANC General Secretary Gwede Mantashe said.


He said: "The ASA should be more upfront and upright in censuring the officials in the matter.

"Semenya has been victimised and subjected to unnecessary public scrutiny, thus denying her dignity."


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September 2009: South African Government complains to United Nations over Semenya's treatment by IAAF
September 2009: South African official returns to IAAF Council to help Semenya case