20 July,2012 08:01 AM IST | | AFP
"Caster is an absolute role model for all sportsmen and women in South Africa," said Gideon Sam, the president of the local Olympic Committee.
"She's proved herself to be an absolute inspiration in the face of adversity and we are sure that this inspiration will rub off on each and every member of the Olympic squad," Sam said in a statement.
Caster Semenya
The 21-year-old landed in the spotlight in 2009 after she was forced to undergo drug tests followed by gender tests after her world win in Berlin. She was barred from the track for almost a year before being cleared to run again and her comeback was hampered by a lower back injury. Semenya is due to compete at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco today as part of her final preparations for London.
Her gender test caused widespread anger from the South African public and government and leaked test results said Semenya was a hermaphrodite.
