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South Africa: Ax Lying Semenya Official

His coverup hurt runner, says sports minister

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2009 7:02 AM CDT
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(Newser) – South African government officials are calling for the firing of an athletic director who admitted lying about gender tests before Caster Semenya entered her controversial World Championship race last month. "His lies were to Ms. Semenya's detriment," said a statement from the nation's sports minister, reports the BBC. Leonard Chuene "has not only lied to us at the ministry, but to the whole country, and this is not acceptable."

Chuene, head of Athletics South Africa, admitted he lied when he said no gender tests on the apparently intersex runner had been conducted. He also did not reveal a physician's recommendation that Semenya be pulled from the event. He said he lied to protect Semenya's confidentiality.

South African athlete Caster Semenya laughs with her grandmother during a celebration in their village following Semenya's victory in a World Championship race.
South African athlete Caster Semenya laughs with her grandmother during a celebration in their village following Semenya's victory in a World Championship race.   (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Caster Semenya pauses after competing in the Women's 800m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin last month.
South Africa's Caster Semenya pauses after competing in the Women's 800m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin last month.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)
Athletics South Africa (ASA) president Leonard Chuene, address the media during a press conference in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday Sept. 19, 2009. Chuene apologized Saturday for denying knowledge of gender tests done on runner Caster Semenya in South Africa, saying he lied to protect the athlete's privacy.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) president Leonard Chuene, address the media during a press conference in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday Sept. 19, 2009. Chuene apologized Saturday for denying knowledge...   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
jimw428
Oct 2, 2009 12:52 PM CDT
All anyone needed to do is to look at her/his abs and biceps to know this isn't a female!
bewilderbeast
Sep 21, 2009 10:42 AM CDT
Frankly, I don't know. You'd think international sports bodies would have a definition. They should let us know how they decide. To most of us it should not matter. Whatever a person feels he/she is, I respect that. But when people have to compete against one another fairness comes into it, and then one would have to have rules (sadly).
bewilderbeast
Sep 21, 2009 10:39 AM CDT
You're wrong jiblitz. This is not a deformity. You have no way of knowing if you have ovaries (if you're a man) or internal testes (if you're a female). Anyone not ignorant or bigoted knows that sexuality is not purely either/or - we all vary somewhat in our male/female characteristics.
Sports • Science • World

 
gender • sports • athletics • World Championships • Caster Semenya • Leonard Chuene • intersex • gender tests

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