Other Sport
Chuene returns to IAAF board
2009-09-13 19:10
Email | Print
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.