Pistorius wants some 'closure' for Caster Semenya

Published on Thursday 20 May 2010 22:34

OSCAR Pistorius believes Caster Semenya needs "closure" over the gender row shrouding his compatriot.

South African Semenya, who has undergone tests to determine her gender, has not raced since winning gold in the 800metres at last summer's World Championships in Berlin. The results of those tests were initially expected last November but the case is still to be concluded.

International Association of Athletics Federations president Lamine Diack last week confirmed there will be a resolution by the end of June, meaning Semenya could yet race on her intended comeback date of 24 June in Zaragoza, Spain.

South Africa's sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile said: "There has been a war for the last five months and we won 99 per cent of the issues. The last one, which I have no doubt will be won in the next three weeks is the announcement that Caster goes back to the track."

Pistorius, a double amputee known as 'Blade runner' and four-time Paralympic champion, was previously the highest-profile South African in athletics after a row with the IAAF over claims that his carbon fibre blades provided an unfair advantage attracted worldwide attention.

The issue was settled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2008, who agreed with the scientific evidence provided by Pistorius and his legal team that he had no such advantage and he is now permitted to partake in both Paralympic and able-bodied events.

The 23-year-old, who is in Britain for next week's BT Paralympic World Cup, and Semenya are represented by the same legal company and Pistorius believes she has the personality to cope with a ruling either way.

He said: "The worst has passed for her, she has got a strong character and I'm sure she will get through it.

"I know she's training at the moment. I'm sure she has the perception that she's going to be running and they need to make a decision pretty soon, so they either allow her to run or not allow her and she can have closure."

Pistorius knows – to an extent at least – what Semenya is going through, having been similarly in limbo during the row over his carbon fibre blades.

The pair met for the first time after Semenya's World Championships success and have not discussed their situations.

"Although I think the cases have similarities, I think they're very different, not only for the obvious points," added Pistorius. "The logistics, the way things have happened for her, I feel sorry for her in a way.

"She is a young person and I think fundamentally that needs to be respected and honoured."