Johannesburg - Athletics South Africa (ASA) on Thursday slammed three of its provincial members after the Boland, Eastern Province and Western Province athletics associations called for the federation's board to step down.

The three provincial bodies last week released a statement calling for the heads of ASA boss Leonard Chuene and his executive, along with ASA senior management, for their handling of the Caster Semenya gender controversy, among other financial and leadership concerns.

But ASA hit back, claiming that any issues within the federation could have been discussed at a special general meeting in Kempton Park last month.

"Our concerns stem from the fact that these provinces are choosing to engage with the federation through media reports, while none of them raised any issues at the special general meeting on September 24, specifically called to deal with members' matters of concern," ASA said in a statement.

At that meeting, it was widely expected that Chuene would be given a vote of no confidence, but nobody in attendance put forward a motion to remove from his seat at the head of the board.

Senior officials who represented coastal member associations later told Sapa they had been too scared to denounce Chuene due to his "political connections". The same officials added that presidents of other provincial associations had been placed in their positions by Chuene and had been warned by him "if I go, you go."

But ASA said on Thursday there were certain channels that could be taken by the members if they wanted to raise any issues relating to the federation.

"The federation's standard governance structures make ample provision for members to table any recommendations on issues relating to athletics in South Africa," the federation said.

"The three provinces chose not to utilise these structures at any stage, but rather to address their concerns through public statements."

The federation added that they would not respond to the three members' statement, but would be willing to discuss the issues raised if the correct channels were followed.

"We will not be drawn into a process of engaging our members through media statements. Our existing channels for engagement remain open to all member provinces and we will do what is required to continue utilising these to the fullest."