By Duncan Mackay

September 16 - Athletics South Africa (ASA) did know that there were doubts about the gender of Caster Semenya (pictured) before she competed at the World Championships in Berlin, former team manager Wilfred Daniels claimed today.



It is an allegation that appears to be backed-up by a series of damaging e-mails that have also been uncovered.
 

Semenya was subjected to a humiliating two-hour gender examination that included having her genitals photographed, alleges Daniels, who claims ASA's general manager Molatelo Malehopo ordered the tests to be done on Semenya in South Africa before the World Championships, where she won the 800 metres.


During the ordeal her internal organs were scanned and she was examined while her feet were put into stirrups.

Daniels said: "The worst part was that she thought she was going for doping tests... she was in no way prepared for what happened.
 

"The truth will come out when Caster finally gets the chance to say what happened."

The e-mails, meanwhile, contain formal communication between the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and South Africa's team doctor, Harold Adams, dating from early in August which seem to demonstrate the ASA were aware of the seriousness of the situation before they allowed her to travel to compete in the World Championships.
 

Adams, who had allegedly advised ASA that Semenya should not compete in Berlin, has yet to break his silence on his role in the affair, which could be potentially damaging to his career as one of the country's top medical experts, which includes being one of President Jacob Zuma's doctors.
 
Adams reportedly contacted the IAAF President Lamine Diack at the weekend to provide evidence that he had advised ASA of the dangers of letting Semenya compete at the World Championships.

Since the scandal broke, ASA President Leonard Chuene (pictured here with Semenya upon her return to South Africa) has always tried to claim that Adams was not involved in gender testing before the Championships nor was he officially connected to ASA and they had no reason to withdraw her.

Chuene said: "At that stage [before Berlin] did not even know about the alleged gender tests we read about in the media that were conducted on Mokgadi [Caster]."
 

Earlier, he said Adams had told him the Medical Commission of the IAAF had advised them to withdraw Semenya solely on the basis that they had conducted sex tests on her.


Chuene said: "After I challenged th IAAF to give me proof that they had informed us about the tests, they argued that they had told Dr Adams.

"But I told them he was not a member of ASA.

"I have now asked for a thorough report detailing everything so that we can probe it."
 

But Chuene's repeated attempts to distance ASA from Adams have been undermined by the organisation's own website, which lists Adams as South Africa's team doctor and president of Boland Athletics.

He was also formerly an ASA director.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]

Related stories
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
September 2009: South African President defends Semenya over gender doubt revelations
September 2009: Semenya is hermaphrodite reports claim
September 2009: South African official quits over Semenya gender test row