In a bombshell report the doctor of the South African athletics team, Harold Adams, has accused Athletics South Africa (ASA) boss Leonard Chuene of deliberately politicising and sowing confusion in the Caster Semenya gender test saga.
Read the report (PDF)
Adamss confidential report, leaked to the Mail & Guardian, suggests that Chuene consulted top-level politicians before deciding, against Adamss advice, to field Semenya in the World Athletics Championship in Berlin in August.
The M&G understands that one of these politicians was the controversial ANC head of Parliaments sports committee, Butana Komphela.
In the report Adams asks: Did Chuene consult with the high-powered politicians to merely get an endorsement and political backing for his pre-conceived plan of getting a medal at all costs?
He says Chuene told a medical team of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that withdrawing Semenya was not acceptable to top-level South African politicians who are also in government and that if the IAAF insisted on Semenyas withdrawal they would face the wrath of the South African government, because it would not hesitate to take the IAAF to the highest court in the land.
Adams accuses Chuene of an orgy of lies and selfish interest to cover his back at the expense of Semenyas welfare. He describes his decision to let Semenya race in Berlin as reckless, short-sighted and grossly ­irresponsible.
Chuene did not reply to the M&Gs questions this week and Komphela was unavailable.
In Parliament this week Chuene blamed the IAAF and the media for Semenyas woes, saying he had only acted to protect the athlete.
Adamss report indicates that Chuene lied to Parliament by saying that the IAAF had suggested Semenya should fake an injury and withdraw from the race, which he considered unethical.
The report was sent to the ANC and South Africas Olympic governing body, Sascoc.
It has come to light in the week that IAAF president Lamine Diack was due to have visited South Africa to discuss Semenyas gender test with her and the government. But Diack announced on Thursday that he had cancelled the trip.
Komphela has declared Diack unwelcome in the country
Read the report (PDF)
Adamss confidential report, leaked to the Mail & Guardian, suggests that Chuene consulted top-level politicians before deciding, against Adamss advice, to field Semenya in the World Athletics Championship in Berlin in August.
The M&G understands that one of these politicians was the controversial ANC head of Parliaments sports committee, Butana Komphela.
In the report Adams asks: Did Chuene consult with the high-powered politicians to merely get an endorsement and political backing for his pre-conceived plan of getting a medal at all costs?
He says Chuene told a medical team of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that withdrawing Semenya was not acceptable to top-level South African politicians who are also in government and that if the IAAF insisted on Semenyas withdrawal they would face the wrath of the South African government, because it would not hesitate to take the IAAF to the highest court in the land.
Adams accuses Chuene of an orgy of lies and selfish interest to cover his back at the expense of Semenyas welfare. He describes his decision to let Semenya race in Berlin as reckless, short-sighted and grossly ­irresponsible.
Chuene did not reply to the M&Gs questions this week and Komphela was unavailable.
In Parliament this week Chuene blamed the IAAF and the media for Semenyas woes, saying he had only acted to protect the athlete.
Adamss report indicates that Chuene lied to Parliament by saying that the IAAF had suggested Semenya should fake an injury and withdraw from the race, which he considered unethical.
The report was sent to the ANC and South Africas Olympic governing body, Sascoc.
It has come to light in the week that IAAF president Lamine Diack was due to have visited South Africa to discuss Semenyas gender test with her and the government. But Diack announced on Thursday that he had cancelled the trip.
Komphela has declared Diack unwelcome in the country
