Semenya issue: ASA prez and body suspended

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Johannesburg, Nov 6: The president including the board of Athletics South Africa (ASA) have been suspended by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) for lying about the gender verification tests of 800 metres world champion, Caster Semenya.

ASA president Leonard Chuene had lied about the gender verification tests conducted on Semenya before her stupendous performance in Berlin, on the grounds that he was trying to protect her privacy.

SASCOC which announced the suspension of the Leonard Chuene and ASA, said that appropriate actions will also be taken against International Association of Athletics Federations (IAFF) for disclosing the result of the tests.

Semenya was reported as having both male and female sexual characteristics.

However, ASA spokesperson Chris Brits defended that they were protecting Semenya's interests as she was only tested by one doctor. He said that the test was not enough to fulfill the gender verification requirements of the IAAF.

Suspicion about Semenya's gender arose after her record breaking win in women's 800 world metres world title.

She had participated in the race after being permitted by IAAF which had began the tests prior to the world championship.

OneIndia News