Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - There were "absolutely" no plans for Caster Semenya to sue the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Athletics South Africa (ASA), her lawyer said on Tuesday.
Greg Nott, of the international law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf who represented Semenya on a pro bono basis, said internet reports that she was planning to sue the two athletics organisations for an amount of over R1 billion were "absolute nonsense".
"I don't know where it comes from, I absolutely promise you, on my own life I promise you," he said.
Two web-based publications reported that Semenya was planning to sue the IAAF for $120 million and ASA for $18 million. This would amount to a massive R1.08 billion in South African currency.
"We are very happily engaging the IAAF on a number of occasions, but nothing to do with any kind of suing," Nott said.
"There is no smell of it. No whiff of it and if there was I would be the first to tell you."
The law firm was retained in September at the recommendation of the Minister of Sports and Recreation in South Africa to represent Semenya on a pro bono basis on all legal matters relating to her human rights and her rights as an athlete.
Dewey & LeBoeuf represented the South African disabled sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, in a landmark case against the IAAF last year to allow him to compete in able-bodied events.
They also represented the embattled South African power utility Eskom to secure Euro 1.86 billion loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the construction of the Medupi power plant in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
Nott said he was extremely angry about the reports and that he did not know where it came from.
"We wish Caster a period of peace with her family during this period," he said.
Ray Mali, interim chairperson of the ASA board, who is standing in for ASA chairperson Leonard Chuene who was suspended for his role in the Semenya debacle, said he knew nothing of any lawsuits against the ASA.
"The last time I was in my office was on December 22, and I have not been notified about this matter at all," he said. He was on holiday in the Eastern Cape.
"As far as I am concerned the matter is in the hands of the IAAF and the Semenya family."
Greg Nott, of the international law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf who represented Semenya on a pro bono basis, said internet reports that she was planning to sue the two athletics organisations for an amount of over R1 billion were "absolute nonsense".
"I don't know where it comes from, I absolutely promise you, on my own life I promise you," he said.
Two web-based publications reported that Semenya was planning to sue the IAAF for $120 million and ASA for $18 million. This would amount to a massive R1.08 billion in South African currency.
"We are very happily engaging the IAAF on a number of occasions, but nothing to do with any kind of suing," Nott said.
"There is no smell of it. No whiff of it and if there was I would be the first to tell you."
The law firm was retained in September at the recommendation of the Minister of Sports and Recreation in South Africa to represent Semenya on a pro bono basis on all legal matters relating to her human rights and her rights as an athlete.
Dewey & LeBoeuf represented the South African disabled sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, in a landmark case against the IAAF last year to allow him to compete in able-bodied events.
They also represented the embattled South African power utility Eskom to secure Euro 1.86 billion loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the construction of the Medupi power plant in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
Nott said he was extremely angry about the reports and that he did not know where it came from.
"We wish Caster a period of peace with her family during this period," he said.
Ray Mali, interim chairperson of the ASA board, who is standing in for ASA chairperson Leonard Chuene who was suspended for his role in the Semenya debacle, said he knew nothing of any lawsuits against the ASA.
"The last time I was in my office was on December 22, and I have not been notified about this matter at all," he said. He was on holiday in the Eastern Cape.
"As far as I am concerned the matter is in the hands of the IAAF and the Semenya family."
