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Subject of gender speculation Caster Semenya celebrates winning the women's 800 metres final in Berlin - Source: Reuters
South Africa's 800 metres world championship finalist Caster
Semenya is undergoing a gender verification test after her improved
form this year raised an alarm with athletics officials, the IAAF
said.
Semenya, is eligible to compete in the final, as the complex
medical process will not be completed until well after the August
15-23 championships.
"In the case of this athlete, following her breakthrough in the
African junior championships, the rumours, the gossip was starting
to build up," said International Association of Athletics
Federations spokesman Nick Davies.
Complex procedure
"The gender verification test is an extremely complex procedure,"
Davies added.
"The situation today is that we do not have any conclusive
evidence that she should not be allowed to run."
"It would be wrong today to take a decision to withdraw an
athlete."
The 18-year-old set a personal best for the 800 metres of one
minute 56.72 seconds on July 31, which was eight seconds better
than her time in 2008.
She was also the fastest qualifier for the final, running 1:58.66
in her semi.
