Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

South Africa athletics body suspended over gender row

Updated at 2:01 pm on 7 November 2009

Athletics South Africa has been suspended by the country's powerful national Olympic committee over its controversial handling of the Caster Semenya gender row.

The committee launched an investigation into the Semenya affair in September and says the suspension's based on acts of misconduct and misdemeanours.

The decision comes a day after the committee suspended Athletics South Africa's boss who admitted he knew about the gender test conducted on the 800 metre gold medalist before the Berlin world championships.

Leonard Chuene ignored advice to withdraw Semenya fromthe tournament, resulting in the controvesial sex test ordered on her by world athletics governing body.

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