Diack to meet with Semenya over gender test results

Submitted by ATAF Editor on 14 October 2009 - 2:36pm

The International Amateur Athletics Federations (IAAF) President will visit World 800m champion Caster Semenya in her home in South Africa to explain the implications of her gender test results before the end of the month.

Semenya, whose 800m victory at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin has been overshadowed by the row over her ambiguous gender, is yet to be notified about the medical examination she underwent following her victory in the summer, with the test results still being scrutinised by scientific experts and lawyers.

The 18-year-old has also engaged an American law firm to advise her on human and civil rights matters and is considering taking legal action against the world governing body for breaching her right to confidentiality.

It is hoped that a face-to-face meeting with Ms Semenya by Mr Lamine Diack, the president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, who is also black and African will go a long way in placating the ANC and easing the highly charged racial tensions that have emerged as a result of the case.

Diack may be accompanied by Professor Arne Ljungqvist,the chairman of the International Olympic Committee's medical commission.