IAAF TO REMAIN MUM ON SEMENYA CASE
By David Monti
(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), the global governing body for athletics, confirmed today that the gender determination case of world 800m champion, Caster Semenya of South Africa, was still ongoing.  However, the Monte Carlo-based organization provided no clues as to what progress had been made in the case and when a decision on her eligibility to compete would be made.

"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 Semenyas participation in Athletics," read the 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."

Semenya, 18, enjoyed an unprecedented rise in athletics during 2009.  Her best time for 800m entering this year was a solid, but unremarkable, 2:04.23.  But in a span of ten months, she brought that time down to a South African record 1:55.45, winning every 800m race she contested but one, including the IAAF World Championships in Berlin which she won by more than two seconds.

Semenya's masculine appearance gave rise to an investigation about her true gender.  She has been staunchly defended by both her family and her federation, Athletics South Africa. 

Today's announcement was designed to tamp down media expectations that a decision would be released at the upcoming IAAF Council Meeting in Monaco from November 20-21.  About this, the IAAF was clear.

"No further comment will be made on this subject until further notice," concluded the statement.

ENDS