Nov 5, 2009, 14:24 GMT
Johannesburg - South Africa's Olympic governing body, SASCOC, on Thursday suspended Athletics South Africa (ASA) president Leonard Chuene and the ASA board 'with immediate effect' over their handling of the Caster Semenya affair.
SASCOC said Chuene and ASA would be subjected to a disciplinary investigation 'and further action' after Chuene admitted to lying about sex tests performed on Semenya, the women's 800m gold medallist.
SASCOC said it was also considering 'taking appropriate action against the (world athletics body) IAAF for its disregard of Semenya's rights to privacy.'
The IAAF ordered sex tests on 18-year-old Semenya shortly before she lifted the 800m title at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August.
Australian media reported the tests showed Semenya to be intersex - or having both male and female characteristics. The IAAF has not yet released the results.
SASCOC said Chuene and the other ASA officials would be investigated on charges of 'bringing the sport of athletics, SASCOC and sport in general into 'disrepute.'
Chuene initially resigned from the IAAF board when the Semenya affair broke in Berlin in protest over the questioning of her gender.
It later emerged that the ASA had actually organized gender tests on Semenya before she travelled to Berlin - allegedly without her consent.
Chuene also ignored the advice of the team doctor and the IAAF to withdraw Semenya from the championships to spare her unkind scrutiny, saying he did not want to deny South Africa a medal hope based on 'rumours.'
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