Semenya cleared to compete as woman: Media

Johannesburg: Controversial athlete Caster Semenya has been cleared to return to competition as a woman

after nearly a year of speculation on her gender, a media report said on Thursday. The International Association of Athletics Federations has given the South African 800m champion the green light to run again after reviewing the results of gender-verification tests, reported television station ETV, citing unnamed athletics sources. Semenya and Sport Minister Makhenkesi Stofile are scheduled to give a press conference on the outcome of the gender dispute today at 1830 IST, but neither the athlete`s coach nor the ministry would comment on the ETV report. "I can`t comment on anything until I hear it from the minister myself," Semenya`s coach, Michael Seme, told AFP. "There is an outcome on this matter, but as we are speaking now I also don`t know whether it`s positive or negative," said ministry spokesman Manase Makwela, quoted in The Times newspaper. The 800m world champion has not run since leaked test results said she was a hermaphrodite following her win at the Berlin championships in August. The incident sparked anger from the South African public and government, who have rallied behind the athlete. Bureau Report