On that Running Controversy.

If her external organs are female, and she was raised this way all her life, then despite the testosterone advantage, they should still let her run with the women and compete, in my view. I agree with the family, and the scientific findings, because of course it's possible to simultaneously hold and respect both viewpoints.

Semenya was ordered to take tests straight after her 800 metres gold at the World Championships in Berlin.

The athlete received a heroine's welcome when she arrived back home in South Africa following the backlash.

And Semenya's family have slammed the claims, saying: "It is God who made her look that way but she IS a girl."

The runner was last week given a make-over by YOU magazine — and called the row over her gender "a joke" as she posed in make-up and a dress.

South Africa's athletics chiefs this evening said they stood by her amid the claims.

Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene said the organisation would advise the teenager to ignore all media speculation until she had been officially informed of the results of the tests.

He said: "We are ignoring these claims. We cannot comment on them as we know nothing about them.

"We will wait for the due process to be followed. The authorities have made a statement to say we will be informed about the results and we await that development.

"We cannot get involved in gossip of this sort. Our people will speak to Caster this evening and ensure that she puts these rumours from her mind.

"She is at university at the moment. She must concentrate on her studies.

"We stand fully behind her as our athlete."

Semenya's family also angrily disputed the claims.

The athlete's uncle Lesiba Rammabi, 51, said her relatives were 'very humiliated' by the reports.

He said: "I believe Caster is normal, inside and out.

"What does it matter whether she can have babies or not? Many people cannot have children, why else do parents adopt? Are those women not women also?

"We are a normal family who looked at a child when she was born, saw that she was a girl and raised her as any other family would do. Are we now being told that we are wrong?

"We are very humiliated by what has been said and do not understand how it can be true.

"This is a woman who was raised a female. She will always be female, no matter what people say."

ADDED: Sadly, she appears to have withdrawn from this weekend's scheduled races:

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Caster Semenya has withdrawn from a weekend race amid speculation about the South African runner's gender.

The South African Press Association quotes her coach, Michael Seme, as saying she will not take part in the 4,000 meters at the national cross country championships in Pretoria on Saturday.

He had said earlier this week that Semenya would run.

Asked Friday why she withdrew, Seme said she was "not feeling well."