Semenya cleared to compete as woman: media

Published>Thu, Jun 10 10 05:22 PM

Controversial athlete Caster Semenya has been cleared to return to competition as a woman after nearly a year of speculation on her gender, a media report said today.

The International Association of Athletics Federations has given the South African 800m champion the green light to run again after reviewing the results of gender-verification tests, reported television station ETV, citing unnamed athletics sources.

Semenya and Sport Minister Makhenkesi Stofile are scheduled to give a press conference on the outcome of the gender dispute today at 1830 IST, but neither the athlete's coach nor the ministry would comment on the ETV report.

"I can't comment on anything until I hear it from the minister myself," Semenya's coach, Michael Seme, told AFP.

"There is an outcome on this matter, but as we are speaking now I also don't know whether it's positive or negative," said ministry spokesman Manase Makwela, quoted in The Times newspaper.

The 800m world champion has not run since leaked test results said she was a hermaphrodite following her win at the Berlin championships in August.

The incident sparked anger from the South African public and government, who have rallied behind the athlete.

Source: Web Search