IAAF asks ASA to keep Semenya from competing

The IAAF has asked Athletics South Africa to abide by its decision to keep Caster Semenya from competing until the results of her gender tests are announced.

“The IAAF have given the assurance of completing the medical process speedily and have requested that ASA abide by the world body’s decision not to allow Semenya to participate in track and field events until the process has run its course,” ASA acting head Ray Mali said in a statement.

Mali also “called for the patience of Semenya and her advisors in the interest of all parties.”

Mali told the

AP that Semenya’s lawyers wanted her to run on Tuesday at the Yellow Pages Series athletics meet in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town.

Richard Stander, the chief executive of the local Boland Athletics association, told the AP that the 19-year-old Semenya had not been invited to the meet.

“It’s a technical matter,” Stander said. “If you were in Caster’s position, until the tests come to the fore a doctor would advise you to keep a low profile.”

Semenya won the women’s 800-metre race at the 2009 world championships in Berlin. Her dramatic improvement in times and muscular build led the International Association of Athletics Federations to order gender tests.

She has not run competitively since, and the IAAF is still reviewing the test results to determine Semenya’s eligibility. The organisation has refused to confirm or deny Australian media reports that the tests indicate Semenya has both male and female sex organs.

Although there is no ban or suspension preventing Semenya from competing, it is thought that she had agreed not to race until the IAAF releases its findings.