The African National Congress wants South Africa's athletics body to come clean about its role in 800-metre champion Caster Semenya's gender row, and apologise to the nation.

The African National Congress (ANC) set up a task team earlier this month to probe the mishandling of Semenya's gender verification tests.

"In their submission to the task team they (Athletics South Africa) were less than honest and very defensive and did not disclose their role in the process in sanctioning the gender verification tests conducted in South Africa.

"The paper trail exchanged between ASA and IAAF (the global athletics body) indicate that there has been mutual agreement between these two bodies to conduct these tests," party spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

He said the task team found that Semenya's gender tests in South Africa were done at ASA's instance.

"They instructed their doctor to conduct such tests and provided resources including transport, a psychologist (who is one of their board members) to conduct counselling which ultimately was aborted," said Mthembu.

ASA boss Leonard Chuene initially denied any knowledge of the gender tests, but later admitted that he knew about them and ignored advice to withdraw Semenya from competing in the championships.

The party also said ASA did not protect Semenya before the world championships in Berlin in August.

The ANC report will be handed to the ministry of sport for further investigation, Mthembu said.

Tests into Semenya's sex were announced by the IAAF shortly before the athlete won a gold medal in the 800m race - thrusting her into the global spotlight.

Leaked IAAF test results showed that Semenya is a hermaphrodite, causing widespread anger from the South African public and government.

AFP

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