Moontown

PRETORIA, South Africa (CNN) — The president of Athletics South Africa has admitted that he lied about gender tests on runner Caster Semenya before her gold-medal win at the World Athletics Championships last month.

Caster Semenya celebrates her gold at the world championships in Berlin.

The national sports body has always denied that it agreed to the tests before the race in Berlin, Germany — an event that kicked off international controversy over the 18-year-old Semenya’s gender.

But after South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper printed e-mails on Friday showing that ASA President Leonard Chuene was aware of the tests, he held a news conference to apologize.

“I now realize that it was an error of judgment and I would like to apologize unconditionally,” Chuene said on Saturday, according to South Africa’s SAPA news agency.

After receiving the results of the tests, the South Africa team doctor requested the 18-year-old Semenya be withdrawn from the 800-meter race she ended up winning, Chuene said.

But Chuene said he refused to do it because the sport’s international governing body did not request withdrawal. He also said withdrawing Semenya might have looked bad.

“If we did not let her run, we would be confirming that she is not normal,” Chuene told the news conference in the capital, Pretoria.

The e-mails printed by the Mail & Guardian are an exchange between team doctor Harold Adams and ASA General Manager Molatelo Malehopo, with Chuene copied in.

“After thinking about the current confidential matter I would suggest that we make the following decisions,” Adams wrote on August 5, more than a week before the Berlin race.

“1. We get a (gynecological) opinion and take it to Berlin. 2. We do nothing and I will handle these issues if they come up in Berlin. Please think and get back to me ASAP.”

An e-mail response from Malehopo to Adams, sent the same day, says: “I will suggest that you go ahead with the necessary tests that the IAAF might need.”

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The controversy over Semenya erupted after she crushed her rivals in the 800 meters and secured victory in one minute, 55.45 seconds — the best women’s time in the world this year.

Semenya’s masculine build and dominant performance fueled existing questions about her gender, and the International Association of Athletics Federations — which oversees the sport worldwide — ordered tests on her.

Reports in two newspapers last week said the results of the tests showed Semenya has both male and female characteristics. The IAAF declined to confirm those reports and said a decision in the case would come in late November.

The IAAF said it sought tests on Semenya’s gender before the Berlin championships because questions had been raised after her winning performance at the African junior championships in July.

South Africans have rallied behind Semenya, angrily dismissing reports about her gender. Semenya’s relatives and the South Africa team manager have maintained she is female.

This week, South Africa’s minister for women, children and people with disabilities wrote to the United Nations to complain that Semenya had not been treated in line with international protocols on gender and quality.

Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya sent a letter to the U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women, urging it to investigate, SAPA reported.

“The questioning of her gender is based on a stereotypic view of the physical features and abilities attributable to women,” she wrote in the letter, according to SAPA. “Such stereotypes demonstrate the extent of patriarchy within the world’s sporting community.”

The process of gender verification has undergone big changes since it was first introduced for international competition in the 1960s, the IAAF said.

The first mechanism involved “rather crude and perhaps humiliating physical examinations,” which soon gave way to mouth swabs to collect chromosomes.

There were too many uncertainties with mouth swabs, so the IAAF abandoned them in 1991 and the International Olympic Committee discontinued them in 2000.

A proper test has yet to be found, the IAAF said, and the current tests are considered a good interim solution.

LENTIL PEAS AND RICE; MACARONI PIE

CREAMED POTATOES; GRILLED BREADFRUIT

MIXED VEGETABLES; PUDDING AND SOUSE

BAKED CHICKEN; BAKED PORK CHOPS

BBQ SPARERIBS; FRIED SNAPPER

GRILLED KING FISH; SEA CAT

BEEF STEW; FISH GRAVY

TOSSED SALAD; COLE SLAW

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has expressed consternation over President Bharrat Jagdeo’s most recent statements against a section of the private media.

“We would encourage the President to seek wider avenues to express his concerns rather than to keep going down the same narrow one-way street over and over again,” the association said in a release issued earlier this week.

The association said while it is understandable and expected that politicians will never see eye to eye with the media, officials ought to recognize and respect the role of the media.

It said that President Jagdeo in “sort of a subtle threat” at the recent dinner of the Private Sector Commission, sought to lecture the businessmen on the role he sees for the media.

“Mr Jagdeo sought to encourage those businesses which advertise with the Kaieteur News to pull their ads because he is not happy with the probing reports that have been appearing in the Kaieteur News,” the release said.

The President also expressed his concerns about stories of crime being on the front page of the newspapers, and went as far as to accuse the newspaper of making up stories.

The GPA said the statements by the President ought to be rejected “totally and are both a clear attack on the freedom of the press.

“The President must understand that he ought not to use the bully pulpit to carry on with his tirade about the media,” the GPA said while adding that the latest outburst is a “clear attempt by the highest office in the land to use its influence to get to private businesses that choose to advertise with the newspapers.

“When the President had differences of opinion with the Stabroek News, he withdrew the government ads, ironically turning to the Kaieteur News embracing the newspapers and its coverage and reach,” the GPA pointed out.

And two years later, it said, the President now has differences of opinion with the Kaieteur News and he turns to the business community to pull its ads.

“Mr Jagdeo having served as President for the past decade must now realize that his way of doing business with the media is no business at all and he must seek better ways to vent his concerns,” the release said.

Meanwhile, GPA reminded all media houses that they have a responsibility to be “fair and balanced in their reporting and in the gathering of information,” for reports. “They must hold themselves up to a much higher standard,” the release stressed.

“Media operatives too ought to be reminded that their pens should not be used as swords to wage private and personal battles.”

The GPA said it will continue to monitor all developments with regard to the local press and has already taken steps to inform its Caribbean and International partners about all these latest developments.

It said it remains open to talks with the Guyana government about several issues of concern to both the administration and the local press corps.

With the rice industry facing difficulties, government has set aside $400 million to assist the sector.

This was announced by President Bharrat Jagdeo at a news conference at State House following a meeting with farmers yesterday.

The Head of State described the situation as very difficult for the farmers based on the high cost of inputs, the difficulties that they have with some millers and the prices that are currently available for paddy. The President said he had asked the Rice Producers Association to hold consultations with farmers across the country to determine the best modes of utilizing these resources that will bring short-term relief while also ensuring that some of the problems the industry currently faces could be addressed in a more definitive, long-term manner.

He said the farmers will get back in touch with the government in the next few weeks to decide on the modalities for using the resources. The President said that they are looking to aggressively expand markets available for the industry. According to him, he was told that this year, the industry will probably be “producing more rice that we have ever produced in our history”.

Therefore, the country has to expand markets and marketing efforts, he declared.

Written by Janel Martin

Do you know what is worse than watching two cocks fight?

It is seeing two girls, two human beings fight over a man, especially when it is a case where the man is cheating on his wife or cheating on his girlfriend. In some cases there are men who are cheating with other men. Can you imagine what the fight would be like, to look at a man and woman fight over a lover? What a calamity! This is just terrible. After all, if the cheater is a true man he would never allow an outside force to interfere in the friendship.

Infidelity usually triggers the two competitors to confront each other rather than to deal with the source of the problem.

The reality of the situation is that when two individuals engage in a dispute over a man, they are actually acting as if they are in competition to eliminate the threat. It is sick. It is disappointing that a man would subject his lover to that kind of environment. Now we all know that very often the tables are turned, where it is the woman who is cheating on the man. It is so distasteful.

If an individual cannot commit themselves to a relationship or cannot be faithful, then just do not bother to get involved. Instead, be upfront with people, by making them aware of the fact that settling down is not an option. It is as simple as that. Honesty is the best policy. People should live life being true to self and to others. Promiscuity is wrong and it is disgusting.

Love is about respecting and being faithful to the other person. In the union the two people are best friends. Once couples think of each other as best friends they are able to work together as different obstacles come their way, instead of looking for support elsewhere. Further, when two people are truly in love they are able to address problems, instead of seeking out to have an affair.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass”, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s to put more concisely. (Exodus 20:10)

Women, when men have their woman leave them alone. A man can seduce you by sending a million roses, and the biggest diamond rock. However, leave him alone if he has another half. What goes around comes around. It is not worth it. Nothing is sweeter than true love, and true respect. Men, if you see a cute lady pass, remember beauty is in the inside, remember that lovely lover you have waiting for you at home.

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa – Inexperienced West Indies received a fiery baptism yesterday as South Africa crushed them by 188-runs in their first official ICC Champions Trophy warm-up match at Senwes Park.

Winning the toss and batting, the Proteas piled up an intimidating 388 for four off their allotted 50 overs before returning to undermine the under-strength Windies for 200 off 41.1 overs.

Jacques Kallis (86), Graeme Smith (83), JP Duminy (80 not out) and Mark Boucher (55) all pummeled half-centuries as West Indies bowlers came under fire from early.

None was spared but medium pacer David Bernard Jr grabbed two for 71 from his 10 overs while fast bowler Tino Best snared two for 88 from his allotment, to emerge from the carnage as the best bowlers for the tourists.

West Indies were given a flying start of 80 off 77 balls by Dale Richards (41) and Andre Fletcher (35) but they lost five wickets for 25 runs in the space of 46 balls, to slip to 105 for five and send the innings into terminal decline.

Only Darren Sammy with a fine 52 from 61 balls showed any fight down the order as left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe undermined the innings with four for 34.

Already facing a daunting task in the tournament with a weakened team devoid of its elite players, it was hardly the type of start West Indies would have wanted.

But up against one of the major tournament favourites, there was little the makeshift side could do as South Africa romped to an emphatic victory.

Richards slammed seven fours in a knock that lasted 42 balls while Fletcher stroked six fours off 40 balls, to briefly raise the Windies’ hopes of an upset.

The duo showed little respect for the opening pair of Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell and had gathered 25 overs from the first three overs sent down.

Fletcher took successive boundaries off the last balls of the second over from Parnell while Richards dished out similar treatment to Steyn in the next over.

Fast bowler Albie Morkel eventually got the breakthrough when he bowled Fletcher in the 13th over, to spark a Windies collapse.

With just five runs added from 16 balls, Richards was bowled by Kallis in the 16th over and the left-handed Devon Smith then dithered for 27 balls over 17 runs before being trapped lbw by van der Merwe.

Four balls later at 105, van der Merwe bowled Travis Dowlin for five and with no run added, captain Floyd Reifer departed for one, lbw to off-spinner Johan Botha.

South Africa were then frustrated by two partnerships as Sammy, who struck six fours and two sixes, shared 35 for the sixth wicket with Bernard (11), and a further 47 for the seventh wicket with Royston Crandon (13).

When Sammy was bowled by van der Merwe at 187 for seven in the 38th, the resistance ended meekly.

Earlier, Herschelle Gibbs and Smith added 79 before Gibbs retired hurt after striking six fours and one six in 38 off 40 balls.

Smith and Kallis completed the first wicket stand by adding a further 115 runs, as the hapless Windies bowlers were put to the sword.

The left-handed Smith slammed 11 fours and a six off 74 balls while Kallis was more cautious with seven fours and two sixes off 90 balls.

It was Duminy and Gibbs, however, who raised the temperature with an exhilarating fourth-wicket stand of 116 off 55 balls.

Duminy’s 80 required just 49 balls and included four fours and five sixes while Boucher’s knock came from 27 balls and was decorated with nine fours and one six.

West Indies will play their second match tomorrow against Sri Lanka.