Athletes will gather in Pretoria on Saturday to openly discuss the running of national sports events in the country.

The meeting will be shut to Athletics South Africa officials and the media to give athletes a chance to air their views without intimidation.

The meeting comes in the wake of the Castor Semenya gender row and ASA President Leonard Chuene’s admittance that he lied about whether the 18-year-old was subjected to gender tests before she left for the IAAF World Championships which were held in Berlin in August.

Semenya’s gender was called into question after her convincing victory in the women’s 800 metres final. Weeks later an Australian newspaper reported that the IAAF’s tests revealed that Semenya was inter-sexed, meaning she had female and certain male reproductive organs.

Chuene initially said ASA was convinced the athlete was a woman and therefore they saw no need to test her gender. He later admitted that he lied and that she had in fact been tested before the world championships.

The ASA board has stood by Chuene, saying he does not need to step down or be fired despite lying about the matter.

“I know they’ve got a lot of anger, especially the ones that came from Berlin and we want them to get rid of that anger," says former South African track star Geraldine Pillay, who is involved in the organisation of the meeting.

Pillay says a statement will be issued once the gathering concludes.

For more on this issue:

  • Is there dissent within ASA?
  • ASA: Chuene shouldn't be judged
  • Chuene retains ASA presidency

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