Johannesburg - South African 800m world champion Caster Semenya said on Tuesday she was "thrilled" to return to women's competition, after a ruling from the athletics governing body IAAF ended debate on her gender.

"I am thrilled to enter the global athletics arena once again and look forward to competing with all the disputes behind me," she said in a statement released by her lawyers.

Her lawyer Greg Nott said the settlement resulted from protracted negotiations between medical teams of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Semenya's own team, presided over by an international mediator.

Terms of the agreement will remain confidential, he said.

"We are delighted that Caster is finally being permitted to compete with other women, as is her legal and natural right," said fellow lawyer Jeffrey Kessler.

"Hopefully, this resolution will set a precedent so that no female athlete in the future will have to experience the long delays and public scrutiny which Caster has been forced to endure."

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

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