Furthermore, SASCOC is considering “taking appropriate action against the IAAF for its disregard of Semenya’s rights to privacy,” following speculation over her gender. Semenya won the women’s 800 metre title at the World Championships in Berlin in August, but reports have said that she underwent a gender test and Chuene later admitted to lying about the results.

At a Special Board meeting of SASCOC called for the purpose of considering the report of the SASCOC Legal and Arbitration Commission into the handling of Semenya, the Board resolved unanimously as follows:

To accept the recommendations made by the SASCOC Legal and Arbitration Commission as listed below.
1. Mr Leonard Chuene should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action.
2. Mr Kakata Maponyane, Mr Molatelo Malehopo and Ms Phiwe Mlangeni should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action.
3. The Board of ASA and its Members should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action.
4. Ms Humile Bogatsu should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action.
5. SASCOC should consider taking appropriate action against IAAF for its disregard of Ms Semenya’s rights to privacy.

SASCOC should ensure that the suspension in respect of Mr Malehopo; Ms Mlangeni and Ms Bogatsu conform to current Labour Law Practices and that any contemplated suspension is with full pay and appropriate benefits due to their status as employees of ASA.

It is being further recommended that:
A decision is taken to appoint SASCOC Board Member Mr Ray Mali as the administrator of Athletics South Africa.
That the Administrator Mr Ray Mali will convene an urgent meeting of the Council of ASA (excluding the suspended individuals) and elect an Interim Board of ASA pending the outcome of the disciplinary enquiry.
That the suspended individuals will appear before a disciplinary enquiry to answer charges of bringing ASA, the sport of athletics, SASCOC and sport in general into disrepute.

Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene and ASA general  manager Molatelo Malehopo met with Sam and SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy recently and reiterated that they were unaware of any gender tests conducted on Semenya in South Africa.

Subsequent to the meeting South African media have reported email correspondence between Malehopo and Athletics South Africa’s team doctor Harold Adams; with the reports adding that Mr Chuene, in his capacity as president, was copied in on the correspondence.

In the email correspondence, presented in the media as having been  sent on Wednesday, August 5th at 13.56, Mr Malehopo instructs Dr  Adams to have the “necessary tests that the IAAF might need”.

“Ordinarily the leadership of SASCOC would not respond to media  reports, but in light of the allegations made in the reports and  the supporting claim of email correspondence that there was an official sanctioning from within ASA for Caster to undergo gender testing the governing body has a responsibility to South African sport and the athlete, in particular, to investigate the claims,” said Sam in a media statement.

“Caster Semenya’s well being 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 SASCOC’s position would be determined by the results of  the investigation.

This event is a festival of celebrating youth participation in the sport of athletics and it takes place once a year worldwide. With the goal of the IAAF Athletics’ World Plan to make athletics the number one sport in schools, this year’s project involves children between the age group of seven to 17.

A total number of 18 children from each participating continent, which includes Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, North and South America who qualifies in the draw that will be conducted by the IAAF after this event, will have an opportunity to attend part of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany from 19-23 August this year. IAAF will cover both the travel and accommodation costs for each child.

The World Athletics Day 2009 draw will determine the winners as follows:

Twelve children from the Youth Age Group; one boy and one girl from each of the six Continents (Areas) in the club competition, and six youngsters ranging from 13 to 15 years of age, each from respective continents will also be selected.

In addition, six teams (13-15 years old, one per area) from the winners of school team competitions will be drawn and each shall receive one set of youth athletics equipment for their school.

Again, thousands of gifts such as T-Shirts, posters and pins have been distributed to each participating Member Federation. All participants will be presented with an IAAF World Athletics Day Diploma, thereby helping to encourage enthusiasm for Athletics, the world’s most international sport.

ASA forms part of the 160 of the 213 member federations that will be participating in this year’s event.