Monaco:
The IAAF said on Friday it is still working behind the scenes with Caster Semenya and the South African government to resolve issues about the 18-year-old runner's gender identity and future career.
The governing body of track said it cannot confirm the South African sports ministry's claims of a deal allowing Semenya to keep the 800-meter world title and prize money she won in August, and maintain privacy over her gender test results.
International Association of Athletics Federations spokesman Nick Davies said the parties are "almost there" in concluding complex negotiations.
"It is premature to discuss the contents of what (the South African government) said until we're ready to say, yes, that we totally agree with it," Davies said. "This is being handled carefully at one level politically, but also in the medical-scientific realm.
"Obviously we are working flat-out quietly behind the scenes to resolve it. Fingers crossed, we will be able to get there very quickly."
The circumstances under which Semenya could resume her track career remain unclear.
Davies said questions would not be resolved during a two-day meeting of the IAAF's ruling council which began Friday in Monaco.
The IAAF had been expected to confirm test results during the sessions, but said on Wednesday the subject was off the agenda while medical testing would continue.
"These people are being trusted to continue their work, and they were congratulated for the work they've been doing because it hasn't been at all easy," Davies said in a break from council meetings.
On Thursday, South Africa's sports ministry revealed an apparent deal which would allow Semenya to keep her gold medal and her medical records confidential.
Semenya won the women's 800 at the world championships in Berlin in August, clocking a season's best time of 1 minute, 55.45 seconds. The IAAF said hours before the race that it ordered gender tests to be conducted because of her muscular build and rapid improvement in times.
Australian newspapers reported in September that Semenya has male and female sexual organs, but the IAAF has refused to confirm or deny those claims.
In South Africa, the case has also entangled the president of the South African athletics federation, Leonard Chuene. In September, Chuene admitted he lied about his knowledge of gender tests performed on Semenya in South Africa before the worlds. He has since been suspended.
The governing body of track said it cannot confirm the South African sports ministry's claims of a deal allowing Semenya to keep the 800-meter world title and prize money she won in August, and maintain privacy over her gender test results.
International Association of Athletics Federations spokesman Nick Davies said the parties are "almost there" in concluding complex negotiations.
"It is premature to discuss the contents of what (the South African government) said until we're ready to say, yes, that we totally agree with it," Davies said. "This is being handled carefully at one level politically, but also in the medical-scientific realm.
"Obviously we are working flat-out quietly behind the scenes to resolve it. Fingers crossed, we will be able to get there very quickly."
The circumstances under which Semenya could resume her track career remain unclear.
Davies said questions would not be resolved during a two-day meeting of the IAAF's ruling council which began Friday in Monaco.
The IAAF had been expected to confirm test results during the sessions, but said on Wednesday the subject was off the agenda while medical testing would continue.
"These people are being trusted to continue their work, and they were congratulated for the work they've been doing because it hasn't been at all easy," Davies said in a break from council meetings.
On Thursday, South Africa's sports ministry revealed an apparent deal which would allow Semenya to keep her gold medal and her medical records confidential.
Semenya won the women's 800 at the world championships in Berlin in August, clocking a season's best time of 1 minute, 55.45 seconds. The IAAF said hours before the race that it ordered gender tests to be conducted because of her muscular build and rapid improvement in times.
Australian newspapers reported in September that Semenya has male and female sexual organs, but the IAAF has refused to confirm or deny those claims.
In South Africa, the case has also entangled the president of the South African athletics federation, Leonard Chuene. In September, Chuene admitted he lied about his knowledge of gender tests performed on Semenya in South Africa before the worlds. He has since been suspended.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
