Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - South Africa's top track official is returning to the international athletics body's board, saying on Sunday he was needed to fight from the inside for a world champion runner whose sex has been questioned.
Athletics South Africa announced on Sunday that its president, Leonard Chuene, was rejoining the board of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which Chuene has accused of humiliating runner Caster Semenya and violating its own privacy rules in its handling of her case.
The decision indicates at least a detente in strained relations between ASA and the IAAF, which could make it easier for both sides to take whatever step is next. The IAAF would have to work through Chuene's group to contact the 18-year-old Semenya about the results of her tests.
The IAAF ordered sex tests on the women's world 800-meter champion, saying questions had been raised about her muscular physique, running style and recent stunning improvement in times. It has refused to confirm or deny Australian media reports last week that Semenya has both male and female characteristics, saying it is reviewing test results and will issue a final decision in November on whether Semenya will be allowed to continue to compete in women's events.
Semenya won the 800m at the world championships in Berlin on Aug. 19 in 1 minute, 55.45 seconds in Berlin, 2.45 seconds ahead of her closest competitor. It was a world best this year.
Chuene left the IAAF board shortly after it announced in August it had ordered sex tests on Semenya. In an interview on Sunday, Chuene told The Associated Press: "I took the (initial) decision as an individual, emotionally."
He said that during a special Athletics South Africa meeting on Saturday in Pretoria, South Africa's capital, other officials said he had a duty to represent both South Africa and Africa on the IAAF board.
"They still want to see me contributing," he said. "I can make a contribution inside" on Semenya's case.
In a statement on Sunday, ASA officials said they had instructed Chuene "to withdraw his resignation from the Council of the IAAF and resume his responsibilities as mandated by Athletics South Africa ... and the Confederation of African Athletics."
ASA also commended Chuene, saying he has handled the Semenya "matter exceptionally well." In contrast, it accused the IAAF of failing "to observe the confidentiality required to handle the matter of this sensitivity" and called on the international body to apologize to Semenya, "her family and the people of South Africa."
ASA appointed a scientific and legal panel to work with the IAAF on the Semenya case.
Chuene said Semenya, a university student in Pretoria, had been receiving counseling for some time, and was also supported by friends and family. He said she has been composed as the storm grew in recent days, but professionals needed to make an assessment, and her state could change over time.
"From where we are sitting, she appears strong," he said.
On Friday, South African Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile called a news conference to expressed his horror at Semenya's sex being debated publicly, and President Jacob Zuma told reporters the media had exploited Semenya.
