South Africa athlete Caster Semenya to run in Finland

Jenny Meadows (far left) trails winner Caster Semenya (second from left)

Semenya wins gold in Berlin

South African world 800m champion Caster Semenya is set to return to competition at the Lappeenranta Games in Finland on 15 July.

The 19-year-old has been out of the sport for almost a year after undergoing gender tests.

Semenya was cleared to compete by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Tuesday.

"If nothing extraordinary happens she will compete in Lappeenranta," said Semenya's agent, Jukka Harkonen.

The teenager is still to decide whether to compete in the African Championships later in July, with October's Commonwealth Games likely to be her main focus this season.

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"There are a few small competitions held in July and there is no point to start from a big competition. It is better to get competition feeling from smaller ones," Harkonen said, adding that the fact that he was Finnish also had some bearing on the decision.

Semenya sprang to prominence last year with her rapid improvement over 800m. Her winning time in Berlin of one minute 55.45 seconds was the fastest of 2009.

But the saga began before her victory in Berlin.

After lowering her personal best in the event by more than four seconds at the African junior event in Mauritius, Semenya was asked by the IAAF to take a gender test prior to the World Championships amid fears she might not be able to run as a woman.

Following the findings of initial tests, the IAAF asked South Africa to withdraw her from their team for Germany but Athletics South Africa (ASA) insisted she should run.

Semenya, then 18, secured an impressive victory in the 800m final, 2.45 seconds ahead of defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei.

The IAAF then ordered more tests, saying questions had been raised about her muscular physique, running style and recent stunning improvement in times.

In January, world athletics' ruling body said Semenya was free to run competitively despite its ongoing investigation into her gender.

But that was quickly contradicted by South African Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam who said she would not be eligible until the IAAF had made its ruling. That ruling came on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the 19-year-old South African ran 600 metres in fitness tests to determine if she was ready to compete after her long absence.