South African track head: Caster Semenya’s lawyers say runner should be allowed to compete

South African track: Lawyers want Semenya to run

JOHANNESBURG — Caster Semenya’s lawyers say the star runner at the center of a gender dispute should be allowed to compete in a meet Tuesday, the head of South African track and field told The Associated Press,

Semenya, the 800-meter world champion who has undergone gender verification tests, would be running for the first time since the controversy broke.

Ray Mali, acting head of Athletics South Africa, said he held a conference call with Semenya and the runner’s lawyers Monday. The lawyers contend Semenya should be cleared to return by track and field’s international ruling body. Tuesday’s meet is in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town.

“As I speak now there is no clarity,” Mali told the AP by phone. “I am engaging the IAAF who are handling this. Her lawyers are saying she must run.”

“If the IAAF say no and Caster goes on to run it could have far-reaching implications for athletics,” Mali added. “I am trying to bring the IAAF on board.”

The Johannesburg office of Semenya’s lawyers, Dewey and LeBoeuf, did not reply Monday to requests for comment. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said he had no information on any developments.

Semenya won the women’s 800-meter race at the 2009 world championships in Berlin. Her dramatic improvement in times and muscular build led the International Association of Athletics Federations to order gender tests.

Semenya has not run competitively since, and the IAAF is still reviewing test results to determine eligibility. The organization has refused to confirm or deny Australian media reports that the tests indicate Semenya has male and female sex organs.

Although there is no ban or suspension preventing Semenya from competing, it is thought that the 19-year-old runner had agreed not to race until the IAAF releases its findings.