BERLIN
- Facing questions about her gender, South African teenager Caster
Semenya easily won the 800-meter gold medal Wednesday at the world
championships.

Her
dominating run came on the same day track and field’s ruling body said
she was undergoing a gender test because of concerns she does not meet
requirements to compete as a woman.

Semenya
took the lead at the halfway mark and opened a commanding lead in the
last 400 meters to win by a massive 2.45 seconds in a world-leading 1
minute, 55.45 seconds. Defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei was second
and Jennifer Meadows of Britain was third in 1:57.93.
After
crossing the line, Semenya dusted her shoulders with her hands. Semenya
did not speak to reporters after the race or attend a news conference.

About
three weeks ago, the international federation asked South African track
and field authorities to conduct the verification test. Semenya had
burst onto the scene by posting a world-leading time of 1:56.72 at the
African junior championships in Maruitius.

Her
dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice sparked
speculation about her gender. Ideally, any dispute surrounding an
athlete is dealt with before a major competition. But Semenya’s
stunning rise from unknown teenage runner to the favorite in the 800
happened almost overnight. That meant the gender test — which takes
several weeks — could not be completed in time.

Before
the race, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies stressed this is a “medical issue,
not an issue of cheating.” He said the “extremely complex” testing has
begun. The process requires a physical medical evaluation and includes
reports from a gynecologist,
endocrinologist,psychologist, internal medicine specialist and gender expert.

South Africa team manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane would not confirm
or deny that Semenya was having such a test.

“We
entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way,”
Mlangeni-Tsholetsane said. “Our conscience is clear in terms of Caster.
We have no reservations at all about that.”

Although
medals will be awarded for the 800, the race remains under a cloud
until the investigation is closed, and Semenya could be stripped of the
gold depending on the test results, IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss
said.

“But today there is no proof and the benefit of doubt
must always be in favor of the athlete,” Weiss said.
Semenya’s rivals said they tried not to dwell on the issue before the race.

“I’ve
heard a lot of speculation, but all I could do was just keep a level
head and go about my business,” Meadows said. “If none of it’s true, I
feel very sorry for her.”

One thing not in doubt was Semenya’s outstanding run.

“Nobody else in the world can do that sort of time at the moment,” Meadows said. “She obviously took the race by storm.””https://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32477147/ns/sports-olympic_sports/
https://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32477147/ns/sports-olympic_sports/
style="border:0px;" alt="site stats"/>