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September 12, 2009

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Semenya's gender test results under IAAF review

Source: Agencies | September 12, 2009, Saturday | Print Edition

THE IAAF said yesterday it has received the results of gender tests on South African runner Caster Semenya but is still reviewing them and will not issue any final decision until November.

The International Association of Athletics Federations did not confirm or deny Australian newspaper reports that the recently crowned women's world 800-meter champion has male and female sexual organs.

"We would like to emphasize that these should not be considered as official statements by the IAAF," the federation said in a statement regarding the reports that first appeared in News Limited and Fairfax newspapers.

The Australian newspaper reported in its Friday edition that medical reports on the 18-year-old Semenya indicate she has no ovaries, but rather has internal male testes, which are producing large amounts of testosterone.

"We can officially confirm that gender verification test results will be examined by a group of medical experts," the IAAF said in a written statement.

"No decision on the case will be communicated until the IAAF has had the opportunity to complete this examination. We do not expect to make a final decision on this case before the next meeting of the IAAF Council which takes place in Monaco on November 20-21."

At a news conference in Greece yesterday, IAAF General Secretary Pierre Weiss, IAAF Vice President Sergei Bubka and other association officials refused to make any comment on the Semenya case and distributed the IAAF's written statement to reporters.

The IAAF officials are in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki for this weekend's World Athletics Final.

After dominating her race at the world championships in Berlin last month, Semenya underwent blood and chromosome tests, as well as a gynecological examination.

Semenya's father, Jacob, expressed anger when contacted yesterday morning, saying people who insinuate his daughter is not a woman "are sick. They are crazy."

He said he had not been told anything by the IAAF, Athletics South Africa or his daughter.

"I know nothing," he said.

The IAAF has said Semenya probably would keep her medal because the case was not related to doping.
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