S/Africa athletics president still under fire

South Africa\'s ruling party has condemned the country\'s athletics body today after a board member said they would not fire the track association\'s president, who admitted he lied over gender tests done on runner Caster Semenya.



Athletics South Africa board member Chris Britz said following a meeting yesterday that the group unanimously expressed confidence in the current leadership and president Leonard Chuene.



About 60 members of the council met to discuss calls for Chuene\'s dismissal after he admitted earlier this month that he lied in saying that Semenya had not been given gender tests in South Africa.



The African National Congress criticised the lack of action, saying it had expected Athletics South Africa to censure all leaders involved in the mishandling of Semenya\'s case.



African National Congress spokesman Jackson Mthembu says Athletics South Africa fails to rise up to the expectation above, thereby failing the South African public, Caster Semenya and the sporting fraternity.



He says the party will urge the government to act.



The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has refused to confirm or deny Australian media reports that Semenya has both male and female characteristics, saying it is reviewing test results and will issue a decision in November.