National Basketball Association

Semenya can compete as woman, coach says

Published Jan. 13, 2010 2:00 p.m. ET

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Caster Semenya's coach says the 800-meter world champion is free to compete internationally despite an ongoing gender test investigation.

Michael Seme said Wednesday that he does not have details but learned from Semenya's lawyers that she can compete. Her lawyer, Greg Nott, was not immediately available to comment.

"She's going to run in international events," Seme said, adding that she would start at local events as a training exercise.

Semenya has never been officially suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federations, pending results of the gender tests.

"We are still in the same position as before -- no official IAAF comment until we have finished the inquiry -- and I can't tell you how long the inquiry will take either," IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said.

Hours before the 800 final in Berlin in August, the IAAF said it had ordered gender tests to be conducted because of Semenya's muscular build and rapid improvement in times. Her future as a runner has been in doubt since.

"They are through with all those things," Seme said.

Semenya was also tested in South Africa before the world championships. In September, Australian newspapers reported that Semenya has male and female sexual organs, but the IAAF has refused to confirm or deny those claims.

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