South Africa’s Caster Semenya can keep world title

The 800m World Champion Caster Semenya will keep her title, says Athletics governing body, despite revelations that proved she was a hermaphrodite.

REUTERS - The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has agreed that South African runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800 metres world title, the country's sports ministry said on Thursday.

The department said South Africa's government, Semenya's lawyers and the IAAF had reached total agreement that she will retain her gold medal, title and prize money because she has been found "innocent of any wrong".

Agreement was also reached with the IAAF that scientific gender tests conducted on Semenya will be treated as confidential and there will be no public announcement of the results, the sports ministry said.

The IAAF was not immediately available for comment.

Date created : 2009-11-19