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Friday November 20, 2009

South African Semenya’s agony set to continue

PARIS: Caster Semenya, the world champion at the centre of an international gender storm, faces another delay over her future after it was revealed on Wednesday that medical testing is still not complete.

The South African, who took the 800m world title in Berlin in the summer, was expected to learn her fate today at a high-level IAAF meeting in Monaco.

But the IAAF said that talks were still ongoing.

“The IAAF, the South African Ministry of Sport and Recreation and Caster Semenya’s representatives have been and still are in discussions with a view to resolving the issues surrounding Caster Semenya’s participation in athletics,” said an IAAF statement.

“The IAAF will not comment upon the medical aspects of Caster Semenya’s case. The medical testing of the athlete is still to be completed.

“There will be no discussion of Caster Semenya’s case at the forthcoming IAAF Council Meeting to be held in Monaco on Nov 20-21.”

The IAAF has numerous options open to them — they could ban her from competing again, require that she undergo surgery, or take no action.

Leaked test results said Semenya was a hermaphrodite, sparking anger from the South African public and government, who have rallied behind the athlete. — AFP

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