Semenya won't run in major South African race

South Africa's women's 800-metre world champion Caster Semenya, the subject of an investigation into her gender, will skip the first major domestic race starting this week, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

"She is not running," Athletics South Africa (ASA) spokeswoman Ethel Manyaka said. "There were reports like that, but her lawyers were really adamant that they did not want her to participate."

"She loves the sport, but unfortunately because of the situation that she is in, she will not run," Manyaka said.

Semenya's coach Michael Seme had said last month that she would participate in the Yellow Pages Series that begins Friday in the southern city of Port Elizabeth.

The 19-year-old dominated the 800m event in the world championships last August in Berlin, sauntering home to take the title, 2.45 seconds quicker than Kenya's defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei who finished second, despite coming into the event a virtual unknown.

JOHANNESBURG, Sunday AFP