ASA chief set to keep job despite Semenya denials

ATHLETICS South Africa chief Leonard Chuene is set to hang on to his position despite calls for him to be sacked for lying about Caster Semenya's gender tests.

 RAGING STORM: The Semenya saga continues to rage as the ASA give Leonard Chuene vote of confidence

Chuene, who initially denied knowledge of the tests carried out on the 800m runner before her victory at the World Championships last month, has received the backing of the Athletics South Africa council.

He later admitted to being aware of the tests, claiming he was acting the interest of Semenya but came in for criticism from South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance party.

ASA released a brief statement saying it ‘unanimously expressed confidence in the current leadership', prompting the Democratic Alliance party to retort with a statement of their own.

"The need for Chuene to go is a no-brainer - so it is of deep concern that ASA appears to have given him a vote of confidence," they said.

"Chuene lied to the nation. He embarrassed South Africa internationally. And he breached Caster Semenya's right to dignity. What more does someone need to do to face disciplinary sanctions?"

But Chuene remains far from in the clear just yet as the South Africa Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee is conducting its own investigation.