South Africa athletics chief under fire
Published:Monday | September 21, 2009 | 8:38 AM
South Africa’s government has demanded that athletics chief Leonard Chuene be sacked after he admitted lying about runner Caster Semenya’s gender test.
Chuene had previously denied knowing that tests were carried out on the runner in South Africa before her 800-metre world title in August.
He then expressed outrage when governing body the IAAF ordered its own tests after the Berlin championships.
South Africa deputy sports minister demanded Athletics South Africa fire Chuene.
Minister Gert Oosthuizen saif if they fail to fire Chuene they run the risk of being led by a liar.
Chuene admitted on Saturday that he had lied to the South African public about his knowledge of the tests conducted on Semenya in Pretoria on August 7, but said the deception had been intended to protect Semenya’s confidentiality.