ASA apologises to Caster Semenya as president Chuene is suspended

ATHLETICS South Africa president Leonard Chuene has been suspended as the ASA issued an unconditional apology for their handling of Caster Semenya's gender test.

APOLOGY: ASA issues an unconditional apology to Caster Semenya as president Leonard Chuene is suspended (Getty Images)

Chuene has admitted to lying to the South African public about gender tests that had been conducted on Semenya, prior to the World Championships in August, where she captured 800m gold.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) said it made the decision to suspend Chuene with ‘immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action'.

In a statement, released on Thursday, the ASA acknowledged the African National Congress's Caster Semenya support task team media statement which condemned the handling by the ASA and the IAAF of the Semenya saga.

"ASA appreciates the ANC's position on this matter, fully welcomes and accepts without any reservations the findings and recommendations of the task team," it said.

"Consequently, Athletics South Africa wishes to publicly and unconditionally apologise to Caster Semenya and her family, the president of South Africa as well as to all South Africans for the handling of her gender-verification processes and the subsequent aftermath."

Semenya, 18, was thrown into the limelight in August when she roared to 800m gold before it emerged gender tests had been carried out on her.

Chuene at first denied knowledge of those tests before admitting he lied to protect Semenya.

SASCOC also said it is also considering ‘taking appropriate action against the IAAF for its disregard of Semenya's rights to privacy'.