SOUTH AFRICAN middle-distance sensation Caster Semenya was at the centre of an inquiry on Tuesday due to concerns about whether she is a male or female.
The 18-year-old has emerged in recent months as a top 800 metres runner, and won her semi-final in commanding fashion at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Monday night, eliminating Kenya's Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo along the way.
But the South African's physique and powerful style have sparked speculation in recent months that she might not be entirely female. IAAF rules state that competitors must be entirely female to compete in women's races but some people are born with a mixture of chromosomes and display both male and female characteristics.
The Herald understands that the world athletics governing body, the IAAF, has conducted a series of tests on the South African, including physical checks and genetic screening.
Officials were to meet late Tuesday to decide whether the teenager from Pretoria would be able to compete in the 800m final on Wednesday.
