Athletics:World 800metres champion Caster Semenya today announced her intention to return to competition this season. The South African, who underwent tests to determine her gender, has not raced since winning gold at last summer's World Championships in Berlin.
The results of those tests were expected last November but the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced earlier this month Semenya’s case had still not been concluded.
The 19-year-old has nevertheless revealed she plans to return to athletics this season, although an exact date was not specified.
“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,” Semenya said in a statement.
“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.
“I will, however, continue to assist the IAAF with whatsoever they may require for their own processes and in this regard I have instructed my legal and medical team to work closely with, and continue negotiation with them for these purposes.
“I hereby publicly announce my return to athletics competitions. 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.”
It has been reported Semenya was due to compete in a meet in Stellenbosch, South Africa, today, but was denied from doing so.
Semenya claimed a dominant victory in the Olympic Stadium last August, winning the final in one minute 55.45 seconds.
The win was overshadowed, however, by the news she had been asked to undergo gender tests by the IAAF.
Semenya today hit out at the IAAF for allowing the process to drag on for so long.
“Notwithstanding my reservations about the correctness and moral integrity of the process I underwent prior to, during and after the Berlin World Championships, on the strength of the representation that I had committed no wrongdoing, I begrudgingly committed to assist the IAAF in concluding its processes which I did not agree with,” the statement added.
“Given that I have rightfully not been disqualified nor suspended from athletics competitions and given also that I expected these processes to be expedited I, on my own volition, resolved not to compete in athletics competitions until these processes had been completed.
“Unfortunately these processes have dragged on for far too long with no reasonable certainty as to their end. The result is that my athletic capabilities and earning potential are being severely compromised.”