Caster Semenya vows to race again this season

Semenya won gold at the World Championships in 2009


World 800m champion Caster Semenya insisted she will race this season, hours after being told to wait for gender-test results to be revealed.

The 19-year-old has not raced since winning in Berlin, but was reportedly due to run in a meeting at Stellenbosch in South Africa on Tuesday.

However, Athletics South Africa (ASA) said she must wait for governing body the IAAF to reveal the test results.

Semenya said her "fundamental and human rights" were breached since her win.

"Since my victory in the female 800m event at the Berlin World Championships in August last year, I have been subjected to unwarranted and invasive scrutiny of the most intimate and private details of my being," she stated.

"Some of the occurrences leading up to, and immediately following, the Berlin World Championships have infringed on not only my rights as an athlete but also my fundamental and human rights, including my rights to dignity and privacy."

The South African, who did not give a date for her planned return to racing, described the gender verification case as "a very simple matter".

"I am an athlete first and foremost and it is vital for my competitiveness, my well-being and for my preparations for events during the European summer that I measure my performance against other athletes," said Semenya.

"I have constantly taken advice from an esteemed panel of medical and legal professionals and other parties who are close to me.

"I have been privy to and have evaluated all the relevant information they have placed before me including current IAAF rules and policies.

"This information has also been placed in the hands of the IAAF. I am of the firm view that there is no impediment to me competing in athletics competitions."

















Caster Semenya wins 800m gold in Berlin







Semenya also said she would continue to assist the IAAF with its case.

"My coach, agent and I will work closely together to identify and prepare for a limited number of athletics meetings over the course of the coming athletics season," she said.

The gender verification tests were performed after Semenya's victory at the World Championships in Berlin in August 2009.

Their results were expected to be announced in November 2009 but the IAAF said earlier this month its investigation into Semenya had still not yet been completed.

The teenager has not run competitively since winning the gold but it is believed she wants to return to the track for domestic races.

However, the ASA said: "The IAAF has given the assurance of completing the medical process speedily and has requested that ASA abides by the world body's decision not to allow Semenya to participate in track-and-field events until the process has run its course."

In January the IAAF had said Semenya was free to run competitively despite its ongoing investigation into her gender, but that was quickly contradicted by South African Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam who said she would not be eligible until the IAAF had made its ruling.

Semenya stormed to victory in the 800m final in a time of one minute, 55.45 seconds - 2.45 seconds faster than defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei, from Kenya, who finished second with Britain's Jenny Meadows winning the bronze.

In November, the South African sports ministry said Semenya was entitled to keep her gold.








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