S. Africa's Semenya wins women's 800m title amid gender controversy

South Africa's Caster Semenya crosses the finish line during the women's 800 meters at the 12th World Athletics Championships in Berlin, capital of Germany, August 19, 2009. Caster Semenya won the gold in 1:55.45 minutes. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

South Africa's Caster Semenya celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the final of the Women's 800m during the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

BERLIN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Caster Semenya, whose gender is in controversy, won women's 800 meters gold at the12th World Athletics Championships on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old, who has led the world since her 1:56.72 breakout performance at the African Junior championships last month, won gold with 1 minute, 55.45 seconds, while defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei of Kenya had to take silver with 1:57.90. Jennifer Meadows of Britain got third with 1:57.93.

Hours before the race, the ruling body IAAF said that a gender test had been conducted on Semenya to confirm whether she was a real woman or not. But the test result could not be available until some time later.

There had been doubts about Semenya's gender because of her masculine physique. But the IAAF said she must be allowed to run as there is still no firm evidence to show that she is not a woman.

Semenya made no immediate comments to reporters following the race on Wednesday.

"I really wanted to get the gold but it was too hard," said Busienei, who lost her title to Semenya. But she did not mention the gender controversy around Semenya.