Wilhelm de Swardt

Pretoria – Caster Semenya, the women's 800m world champion, didn't even have the money to visit her mother in Limpopo as Athletics South Africa (ASA) had not yet paid its contracted athletes.

VIDEO: Caster Semenya interviewed

VIDEO: Caster Semenya wins women's 800m

This was confirmed on Monday by Wilfred Daniels, former ASA team manager.

Daniels said ASA had not paid the salaries of contracted athletes for August and said it was possible that they also wouldn't be paid in September.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife as to where Semenya's passport is.

It apparently "disappeared" after the world championships in Berlin. She is therefore unable to travel anywhere, even if she were to be invited to international events.

Daniels, who last week resigned from ASA, estimated that Semenya could lose up to $200 000 (about R1.5m) should she be invited to events to which she couldn't go.

Molatelo Malehopo, executive head of ASA, said these allegations were "absolute rubbish".

He said the allegations were made in a document created by people driven to show the ASA in a bad light and who wanted to exploit Semenya.

Daniels on Monday revealed that Semenya had to go for tests to a Pretoria hospital the day before she was to fly to Berlin to take part in the world championships.

An ASA official gave her the impression these were only additional doping tests. In reality, gender tests were done without her or her trainer being informed of it beforehand.

She was also not allowed to seek legal advice.

"The day before she took part in the final of the 800m, she was tested again," said Daniels.

This time, she at least knew about it, he said.

"I simply could no longer live with all the lies."

"The only honourable thing was to resign," said Daniels.