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The new women’s 800 metres world champion has received an enthusiastic welcome in her native South Africa. Eighteen-year-old Caster Semenya was greeted by thousands of cheering fans and well-wishers at Johannesburg airport. She hit the headlines last week after officials at the World Athletics Championships questioned her gender. She finished the race a massive 2.45 seconds ahead of the runner-up and defending champion. The BBC reports that athletics authorities tested Ms Semenya hours before the final. The results showed testosterone levels three times higher than those that are usual in females. Officials decided to test her because her personal best time improved by seven seconds in the month before the race.

South Africans are furious at the way the athletics body has treated Ms Semenya. President Jacob Zuma personally welcomed her at the airport. He publicly congratulated her and spoke of his “displeasure” at the International Amateur Athletics Federation for “publicly humiliating” her. Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie told a press conference: "We are here to tell the whole world how proud we are of our little girl." There is now a Facebook group called In Support of Caster Semenya and African Women. It started "to show support for the running sensation who has received unfair treatment". The president of Athletics South Africa said Caster’s gender was a non-issue, saying: “It's very simple: She's a girl.”

www.breakingnewsenglish.com