IAAF investigates South Africa’s over Caster Semenya

The International Association of Athletics Federations has launched an investigation into the behaviour of the leadership of the South African federation over the Caster Semenya saga, but is still no closer to making a final decision on the runner’s future in the sport.

The IAAF council, which began a two-day meeting on Friday, had originally been due to rule on the ambiguous gender of the 800 metres world champion, but her case appears to have become mired in complex medical and legal issues.

Despite claims by the South African sports ministry earlier this week that it had reached an agreement with the IAAF for the athlete to keep her world 800 metres gold medal, the world governing body said it was still no nearer to a resolution of the case.

“There was no discussion of the case at this council meeting,” said an IAAF spokesman.

Despite the delay in reaching a decision, the IAAF is pressing ahead with an investigation into the way leaders of Athletics South Africa conducted themselves during the controversy.

ASA president Leonard Chuene and his fellow board members have already been suspended by the South African Olympic committee on disrepute charges after Chuene admitted he had lied about a gender test carried out on Semenya prior to the World Championships in Berlin.

“I think it is important for us to establish what was done and why was it done and then we will see what we can do,” said the IAAF spokesman. “But the way things are going, by the time we have had our investigation, who will be left? They [the board members] can’t even get in the ASA building at the moment because the locks have been changed.”