(Newser)
–
Pre-race World Championship blood tests on super South African runner Caster Semenya revealed testosterone levels three times typical female rates, a source tells the Telegraph. The results of the tests, carried out in South Africa, contributed to a decision by sports officials to call for "gender verification" tests on the 18-year-old gold medalist. It was also revealed that the head coach of Semenya's team is controversial Dr. Ekkart Arbeit.
He has been accused by a former East German female athlete of giving her so many anabolic steroids that she was forced to undergo a sex-change operation. Arbeit has said he no longer uses any performance enhancing drugs in his training regimen. South Africa's parliament is preparing to file a complaint with the UN over Semenya's treatment. A World Championship official has admitted questions concerning the runner's gender should have remained confidential.
