Renewed calls for South African track officials to quit over handling of gender dispute

Renewed calls for resignations in gender dispute

JOHANNESBURG — Three South African track and field associations want the country’s top officials in the sport to resign over the gender dispute involving Caster Semenya.

The South African Press Association reported Friday that the associations have called on the Athletics South Africa board and senior management to “take collective responsibility for the Semenya gender row fiasco and resign with immediate effect.”

ASA president Leonard Chuene has admitted he lied about the tests performed on the 18-year-old athlete. The three ASA affiliates are Boland, Eastern Province and Western Province.

Semenya won the 800 meters at the Berlin world championships in August. Before the final, the world governing body of track and field said it had ordered gender tests on the runner.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s Olympic committee has begun its investigation into the handling of Caster Semenya by the country’s track officials.

Mark Etheridge, spokesman for the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, says the hearings began Friday and would go into next week.

The committee is looking into the role of Athletics South Africa in the gender testing of Semenya. ASA president Leonard Chuene admitted that he lied about knowledge of gender tests involving the 18-year-old athlete.

Semenya won the 800 meters at the world championships in August in Berlin. Before the final, the world governing body for track and field said it had ordered gender tests on the runner.