Traumatised Semenya 'skips exams'

Caster Semenya has paid a high price for her gold medal

South Africa's gender row athlete Caster Semenya is too traumatised to take her university examinations, according to her trainer.

"Her head is very tired," Michael Seme told the Beeld newspaper.

Ms Semenya won the 800m gold medal at the World Championships shortly after it emerged she had been told to take gender tests, sparking a media storm.

The world athletics body has refused to comment on leaked reports saying she has both male and female sexual organs.

The University of Pretoria, where Ms Semenya is studying Sports Science, has agreed to let her write her exams when she is ready, according to Mr Seme.

"Fortunately, the university has a good understanding of her situation and made it clear to her that exams are the last thing she should worry about at the moment," he said.

The exams are due to start on 4 November.

Ms Semenya has not been allowed to speak to the media throughout the saga and now Athletics South Africa (ASA) is refusing to comment on any reports related to the 18-year old.

"We don't know [about the exams]. We are not commenting on the Caster Semenya issue as an organisation any more," Ms Semenya's manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane told the BBC.

ASA has faced widespread criticism of its handling of the row - its president initially denied knowing that she had been asked to take a gender test ever before travelling to the World Championships in Berlin.

The International Association of Athletics Federation ordered Ms Semenya to take the test after she made remarkable improvements in her performances in recent months, culminating in her gold medal-winning performance.

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