The ruling Council of Athletics South Africa (ASA) yesterday gave Chuene a vote of confidence to continue in his role as President despite the scandal which has split South Africa.

The 17 provincial associations and nine associate members who make up the Council voted unanimously to keep Chuene.

Wilfred Daniels, South Africa's former team manager who resigned in protest at how Semenya has been treated, led the protests.

He said: "It’s quite amazing that the council came up with a decision that is contrary to what all the major formations in this country were calling for.

"It must be a slap in the face to people like [South African] President Jacob Zuma."

But Chuene, who is also a member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council where he sits alongside London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, denied he was guilty of anything other than trying to protect Semenya.

He said: "People, particularly the media, and some of us here today, probably still think and believe that it was a simple thing for me to do.
 

"Without justifying myself, it was not.

"But I am here today to find out from this house what should I have done better.

"[I was protecting] a child who deserves the same opportunities as those of her international counterparts, and worse than ever, how was I supposed to break her confidential state of life?"

Three days before she was due to compete at the World Championships in Berlin, Chuene and members of ASA's team management had been advised by team doctor Harold Adams to withdraw the teenager on the basis of gender tests they had conducted in Pretoria before she left South Africa.

Chuene had initially agreed to withdraw Semenya (pictured), it has been alleged, but the following day - despite the IAAF Medical Commission giving him the same advice as Adams, suggesting Semenya feign an injury to keep the sensitive matter confidential - he changed his mind to prevent political outcry in South Africa if he withdrew a "black South African woman who had a chance of winning a medal".
 

On return to South Africa, Chuene repeatedly denied that tests had been conducted on Semenya, and after admitting he had lied, said he had rejected Adams' advice because the team doctor could not provide the test results at a hotel room in Berlin where the meeting took place.

The Democratic Alliance’s Ross van der Linde condemned the decision to retain Chuene.

He said: "The need for Chuene to go is frankly a no-brainer so it is of deep concern that ASA seems to have given him a vote of confidence."

It was claimed that Chuene's leadership since apartheid ended in 1994, along with his efforts to expand black participation at all levels of track and field, helped save him.

ASA spokesperson Chris Brits reiterated the federation was willing to assist in an investigation into its handling of the Semenya saga.

He said: "ASA will participate and fully cooperate in any statutory commission of inquiry that may be instituted on this matter."

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