Athletics
Semenya given all clear
2010-07-06 08:10
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Cape Town - Caster Semenya, the South African world 800 metres champion, is set to be cleared to run against women, ending her 11-month exile from competitive racing since she was ordered to undergo a gender verification test, according to a report in the
Telegraph.
Semenya has not competed since winning the global title in Berlin last
August, shortly after it was leaked that the International Association
of Athletics Federations had ordered gender tests on the South African
record holder.
The International Association of Athletics Federations and the authorities in South Africa are expected to announce within a few days that the athlete is free to return to the track, ending one of the biggest controversies ever to engulf the sport.
Semenya, 19, who has not raced since her runaway victory at the World Championships in Berlin last August, could be competing again as early as the World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, from July 19-25.
Her coach, Michael Seme, has admitted that she has not been training at 100
percent due to the uncertainty over her future.
Last month sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile called a press conference
with Semenya, expected to shed some light on her eligibility, but it
was cancelled at the last minute. Her lawyers later said they needed to
present a medical team's findings to the IAAF before making the
announcement.