South African officials have stepped up their defence of Caster Semenya, warning of a "third world war" if the row over her sex stops her competing.
The 18-year-old 800m world champion has had medical tests following doubts about whether she is actually female.
South Africa's sports minister, the Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, said: "Caster is a woman, she remains our heroine. We must protect her."
