31 Mar 2010

Semenya to return to athletics

6:26 am on 31 March 2010

The women's 800 metres world champion Caster Semenya says she'll return to athletics competition, even though the sport's governing body hasn't finished an investigation into her gender.

The 19-year-old South African says the UIAAF investigation is taking too long and severely compromising her athletic capabilities and earning potential.

Semenya dominated the 800m in the world championships last August in Berlin, despite coming into the event a virtual unknown.

Her muscular physique and gravely voice prompted questions about her gender before leaked test results said she was a hermaphrodite, sparking anger from the South African public and government, who rallied behind the athlete.