Semenya's hormone levels within acceptable range: report

South African runner and world 800-metre champion Caster Semenya was found to have higher-than-normal levels of testosterone when tested by South African officials but still fell within the range allowable for female athletes, according to a media report.

The Johannesburg-based Mail & Guardian reported on its website that Athletics South Africa — the country's track and field governing body — administered a standard urine test on Semenya, though it didn't conduct a gender verification test.

After Semenya blew away the field to win the women's 800 last week in Berlin, world track officials said they were conducting gender tests because of questions that arose about her muscular build and deep voice.

"She was tested three years ago when she started competing, and it was found that she is a woman," the Mail & Guardian quoted an unnamed source in the ASA as saying. "She may have rather high levels of male hormones, but she is definitely a woman."

A urine sample taken for a standard doping test is often used to test the ratio between testosterone and epi-testosterone in the body. Epi-testosterone is a natural steroid produced by the body, but is classified as a prohibited substance because it can be used to mask the appearance of an unusually high amount of testosterone.

The urine sample given for doping tests is taken by a person of the same gender who is also authorized to check any irregularities in the athlete's genitalia.

Another source told the Mail & Guardian that Semenya has been tested and found to be a woman, saying that the issue of whether or not an athlete is tested has to be kept confidential.

"Of course it is controversial, but results are made known only if there is a problem," said the source, who was identified as a key manager of South Africa's elite athletics squad.

Semenya received a warm welcome Friday when she returned to her home village of Ga-Masehlong, where schoolchildren mobbed her and the region's mayor said he hoped the "gifts and the love" would inspire Semenya to even greater success.

"We need to celebrate her achievements, especially as she is one of our own," Motalane Monakedi said. "She grew up in these villages where she had to walk many kilometres to fetch wood and to fetch water. Still, she managed to rise against these odds. Nothing can stop you if you are determined — and you work very, very hard."