S. African body will probe tests

Johannesburg, Sept. 23: South Africa’s sports governing body said on Wednesday it will probe the conduct of athletics officials in the gender tests carried out on 800 metre world champ Caster Semenya.
“We are mindful of the fact that people are angry and upset, but caution that due process must be followed in attempting to uncover the truth,” said Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) president Gideon Sam.
Outrage around Semenya — who faces a gender storm — deepened after Athletics South Africa (ASA) admitted on Saturday that sex tests were done ahead of the world championships in Berlin, and that medical advice to withdraw her was ignored.
“SASCOC will launch a full investigation into the Semenya matter to ascertain the truth about events leading to the participation and testing of Semenya and subsequent conduct of the officials of ASA,” Sam said in a statement.
A probe into Semenya’s sex was announced last month by the world athletics governing body the IAAF, shortly before she powered to the world’s fastest 800m this year at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
Leaked test results to the media reporting Semenya was a hermaphrodite this month caused further anger from the South African public and government, who have rallied behind the athlete and gave her a hero’s welcome on her return from the games.
Deputy sport minister Gert Oosthuizen on Sunday called for ASA head Leonard Chuene to be fired after he admitted to lying about the tests, saying “they will be running the risk of being led by a liar” if they did not act.
But a cabinet meeting on Wednesday said that “sports bodies must be given to deal with the matter first”, the Sapa news agency reported.
Sam welcomed ASA’s decision to co-operate in the investigation, saying meetings were planned with the athletics body.
“The investigation will result in making recommendations to SASCOC’s board on how the matter should be handled, and there are various options available to SASCOC,” he said.