Caster: To run or not to run?

Have gender tests cleared champion athlete Caster Semenya or not?

Confusion reigned among officials on Thursday afternoon about Semenya’s future after the unexplained cancellation of a press conference that was widely expected to announce that she had been cleared to compete again as a woman.

Makhenkesi Stofile, the sports minister, announced on Thursday that he would address a press conference at 3pm “relating to the Caster Semenya disputes”. But about two hours before the conference, the ministry cancelled it without explanation.

Shortly before the cancellation, a political storm appeared to be brewing.

Athletics South Africa administrator Richard Stander and Tubby Reddy, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) chief executive officer, told the Mail&Guardian that their organisations were not invited to the press conference. “We have only read in the media that there is a press conference,” Stander said.

South African media started reporting on Wednesday night that the 19yearold 800m world champion had been cleared to run as a woman.

Her ordeal began shortly after she stormed to victory in the women’s 800m at the World Championships in Germany in August last year. The International Association of Athletics Federations said that dramatic improvements in her time had raised suspicions about her gender and that the association was “obliged to investigate”.

Before the cancellation of the media briefing Semenya’s coach, Michael Seme, warned against premature cele­brations. “The minister phoned yesterday [Wednesday] and delivered the good news,” he told the M&G. “He also invited our lawyers, Caster and myself to a press conference this afternoon [Thursday]. We have, however, put our celebrations on hold until he repeats the same statement in the presence of our lawyers.”

Immediately after the cancellation, Semenya’s lawyer, Benedict Phiri, was in the dark. “I do not know what the problem is or whether the conference will be held later.”