Athletics Boss: I Lied About Semenya

The president of Athletics South Africa admitted today that he lied to cover up gender tests conducted on runner Caster Semenya, saying he was trying to protect her, the Mail & Guardian reports. Leonard Chuene also admitted to rejecting advice from an ASA team doctor to withdraw Semenya from last month’s world athletics championships in Berlin. “I now realize that it was an error of judgment, and I would like to apologize unconditionally,” Chuene said.

“I felt that at the time I was acting in the best interests of Caster Semenya as a person," Chuene said, the Guardian reports. "I believed at the time my consistent denials would help protect her. I was not going to stop her talent because of rumors. My only crime committed was to take a decision that she must run, and she won. Tell me someone who has not lied to protect a child.”
(More Caster Semenya stories.)