'It's men and women of brains and integrity ... as they've put me there, there is nothing wrong'
The Athletics South Africa (ASA) boss admitted this yesterday at a heated press conference in Pretoria, conceding that he was fully aware there were questions about 800m world champion Caster Semenya's gender.
He also admitted that he knew gender tests were performed on her on August 7 in Pretoria - a week before Semenya ran at the Berlin championships - and that he was advised by team doctor Harold Adams to withdraw her from competing.
He claimed he was presented with two options:
But until yesterday Chuene had deceived the nation by denying any knowledge of the tests or concerns over Semenya's gender.
Despite this, Chuene has refused to resign. Asked why he should hold onto his position, he said: "I believe very strong (sic) a democratic structure does not need pressure from anybody. It's men and women of brains and integrity, if they come to that level, as they've put me there, there is nothing wrong."
That response characterised his bizarre performance at yesterday's press conference.
At one point, as Chuene repeatedly deviated from a written statement, one of his public relations staffers slipped a written note to him asking him to "stick to the script". But this failed to stop his incoherent rant.
Chuene admitted what has been known for some time - that he and ASA management knew there were questions about Semenya's gender and that she was sent to the Medforum Medi-Clinic for tests before she left for Germany.
But he claimed he did this to protect Semenya's privacy - a decision that had the opposite effect.
On Adams advising him to withdraw Semenya from competing on August 14, Chuene said the test results were not available at the time.
"It was on the basis of rumours ... I was with Dr Adams and on the same basis of rumour I refused," he said.
But Chuene also admitted he had initially agreed to withdraw Semenya, but then later changed his mind. "I did not see the results, but I heard (what the results were)," he said, but did not elaborate on what he was told.
Gideon Sam, the president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), said yesterday that it would investigate the conflicting reports.
Chuene and ASA general manager Molatelo Malehopo met recently with Sam and Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy and lied to them.
"Caster Semenya's wellbeing is the priority, but we have to ensure the integrity of those who administer member federations within Sascoc has not been undermined; alternatively, that the sport has not been done a disservice through the actions of its leadership," Sam said.
He added that Sascoc's position would be determined by the results of the investigation, and the organisation would be guided by their legal advisers.
An athlete told the Sunday Times that "questions were being asked about the gender issue in January already".
"She was sacrificed for a medal, simple as that," the athlete said.
E-mails in the possession of the Sunday Times show that Chuene was copied on correspondence between team doctor Adams and ASA general manager Malehopo.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) picked up on the speculation around Semenya on a South African blog on August 3, which stated that "Caster Semenya is an interesting revelation. Interesting because the 18-year-old was born as a hermaphrodite and, through a series of tests, has been classified as female."
This was copied and sent from IAAF spokesman Nick Davies under the subject line "Just to be aware of!" to the top hierarchy in the IAAF, who in turn sent an e-mail to Adams asking that the matter investigated.
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SethMaverick