SEMENYA ALLOWED TO COMPETE AGAIN

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has officially given the all-clear for beleaguered athlete Caster Semenya to compete once more.

“The process initiated in 2009 in the case of Caster Semenya (RSA) has now been completed,” said the IAAF in a statement on its website.

“The IAAF accepts the conclusion of a panel of medical experts that she can compete with immediate effect,” it added.

The association said, however, that it would not release the medical details of the case as they remain confidential and that it would make no further comment about the matter in future.

In March, Semenya accused the IAAF of refusing to release the results of her medical test to her despite numerous requests. She said then that the organisation’s “processes have dragged on for far too long with no reasonable certainty as to their end”.

Semenya came to international prominence after winning gold in the 800 metres at the Berlin Athletics World Championships in August last year. This was in the wake of news that the IAAF would test her to asses if she should compete as a woman.

According to some media reports last year, leaked test reports from the IAAF apparently suggested that Semenya did not have a womb or ovaries and had internal testes.