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
South Africa: Ax Lying Semenya Official
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 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.
(More Leonard Chuene stories.)

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