Caster Semenya has been humiliated - Leonard Chuene

BERLIN (Reuters) - The gender controversy surrounding South Africa's teenage 800 metres world champion Caster Semenya has been humiliating for her, the country's athletics chief said on Thursday.

Semenya's rapid improvement over the past year, in which she has shaved more than eight seconds off her personal best in the two-lap race, prompted the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to order a gender test.

"I will continue to defend the girl, I will continue to do anything, even if I am to be kicked out of Berlin, Germany, but I am not going to let that girl be humiliated in the manner that she was humiliated because she has not committed a crime whatsoever. Her crime was to be born the way she is born," said Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene.

"And now people are not happy, and on that basis she is isolated like a leper, like she has got a disease that will affect other people, and I don't think it's proper," he told Reuters Television.

The IAAF said on Wednesday, hours before Semenya was due to run in the 800 final, the procedure for gender testing had started.

Powerfully built but smooth running, the 18-year-old clocked one minute, 55.45 seconds for the year's fastest time and a personal best by more than a second to win gold.

SECOND OPINION

"I think what they should have done is to protect her until the results are out and then we sit and look at it," Chuene said.

"Because even if the results are out, if we sit and look at it, at home they would like to have a second opinion, these are her parents, this is not going to be a simple thing.

"We are going to be dealing with a case where the parents are going to come in, where the government is going to come in strongly, and that is going to be the case and that is what I am saying as the head of the federation," he said.

IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss, who replaced Semenya at the medallists' news conference, said an investigation into her gender was underway in South Africa and Berlin, adding the IAAF had allowed her to compete, giving her the benefit of doubt.

"But one question is clear," Weiss said. "If at the end of the investigation it is proven the athlete is not a female, we will withdraw the result of the competition today."

He added it could take weeks before a conclusion was reached.

Chuene said the IAAF never officially approached South African athletics officials on this issue.

"We have not been approached... these are the challenges and this is how we are dealing with the challenges, but we have not been approached officially."

"If we have been approached officially I want to see the letter that says Athletics South Africa, this is a challenge, can we sit and talk. Therefore I am saying, maybe this case could have been handled better," Chuene said.

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Caster Caster made us proud, but was it necessary for incompetent Chuene to play the race card to cover his incompetence? by another pale male on August 21 2009, 07:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What are you reading Hey you dum A***, what are you reading. There is no mention of the race in this article, but just preservation of human and athlete's dignity... The fact of the matter is that IAAF has hit Caster below the belt and it is not acceptable!!! by celemba on August 21 2009, 08:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Caster's friends her enemies This poor girl has been sacrificed at the altar of ASA's incompetence. Questions have been asked about this issue ever since she first burst on the scene. There was plenty of time to pro-actively deal with the issue before exposing her to the . .more international spotlight. She has been badly let down by those who should have been looking after her interests. Chuene is so out of touch it is probably going to come as a shock to him when his old fall-back, the race card, doesn't work in Berlin. For a balanced scientific view of what's going on see: www.sportsscientists.com . .less by Alice in Wonderland on August 21 2009, 09:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Pierre Weis is full is S*** Really, where the hell does this Pierre Weisz clown get off saying "If Casper is not female they must take her medal". She is obviously female. I don't think this is a race issue but an issue of jelousy and incompetence on the part of the West. None of . .more their prefered candidates could have perfomed the way Caster has done and now they want to steal her glory! I'm from Poland and I just want Caster to know that we Eastern Eeuropeans are behind her 100%. She is a lovely African woman and the fact that she acts so tomboyish shows that she is confident in her femininity. Trust me, if she was a man trying to pass herself off as a woman, she would have TRIED TO LOOK FEMININE but she's a tomboy. My younger sister has been tomboyish throughout her teens. My God, the bigotry, incompetence and utter stupidity of the IAAF! sHOCKING! One more thing, I am a little lost as to why white South Africans present at the event were not cheering Caster and only black South Africans were? In any case I'd like to say to Caster; Poland and Russia love you darling! . .less by Phillipa Lipinski on August 21 2009, 14:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@celemba From today's Cape Times: "It would not be like that if it were some young girl from Europe," Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene said. "If it was a white child, she would be sitting somewhere with a psychologist, but this is an . .more African child." I stand by my point of view. This situation demonstrates the incompetence of Mr. Chuene and ASA. The uncertainty surrounding Caster's gender is nothing new. It appears to have been with her all of her life. ASA can't now pretend everyone else is to blame. They should have cleared it up, in private, before feeding her to the lions. They are surely not that naive to have expected that everyone, including the rabid international tabloid media, would ignore the issue. If they had done what they should have, they would have been able to produce the uncontestable evidence before any of this had happened and everyone would be feting her achievement. Instead, she is suffering incalculable psychological harm and all the worthies are bristling with indignation. . .less by Alice in Wonderland on August 21 2009, 14:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Leonard Chuene Can anybody recommend an institution where the clown of ASA can get some eduacation on Public Relations. What a disgrace for South Africa. Did you see the interview he had with Jeremy Maggs on ETV News last night ? Chuene has earned himself a "Plantinum . .more medal: A**h*le of the year. . .less by Andre S. on August 22 2009, 09:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Caster Semenya Young Caster has been very badly coached. ASA and the head coach didn't do anything to avoid public humiliation of an obviously very talented young athlete entrusted to them. They knew since long, that a problem could evolve. Why didn't they protect her? . .more I think the responsible officials couldn't care less, taking a great risk. What is your scientific adviser and doping expert actually doing in the team? One could have the feeling that it's not really a gender, but rather a cleverly hidden doping issue. And jealousy by other athletes or their coaches, could have played a role as well, after all, money, money. But please, people stop shouting racism. . .less by Klaus in RSA on August 24 2009, 17:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Step down Leonard Chuene needs to step down, as he's obviously out of his depth, or grossly incompetent. He's handled this issue with about as much tact as a blindly raging buffalo. His rants range from illogical to plain untruth. How does he expect '..her mother . .more knows shes female..' to be taken? "oh ok Leonard, as long as the mom says its ok, we can put away this lab equipment". Len says that this is the first time an issue like this has hit the IAAF - untrue, there have been a few cases before this one. Len, get your facts straight, do your job properly and stop using poor Caster as a vehicle to drive your political agenda. Or better, just step down from ASA, you're doing SA and her promising athletes a disservice. . .less by Gumrol on September 10 2009, 00:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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