Semenya may 'slow down' when she returns to track

Caster Semenya, who this week was cleared to return to athletics, might struggle to regain her form.

The world 800m champion should be fully ready to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October - more than a year after controversy erupted over her gender.

However, experts say that the long lay-off, as well as the possible hormone treatments to increase the estrogen in her body, could affect her performance.

However, Semenya's coach Michael Seme said the star athlete will be at her peak by October.

Semenya returned to the track this week after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) cleared her to run on Tuesday. She came short in her fitness test ahead of the African Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, which start on July 28, but will still compete.

"She has been out of this for a year, not preparing for anything. You can't write an exam when you have not prepared adequately. She will be ready for the African competition, but in full fitness come October," said Seme.

He added that her training will not be rushed.

"We will focus on training but need time to prepare an athlete for such a big event."

Former Athletics South Africa coach Wilfred Daniels, who left the organisation after its handling of Semenya's gender verification tests, said he was "over the moon" that the runner would compete again.

"She needs five to six races before she is competition-ready."

With regards to reports that Semenya has undergone hormonal treatment to allow her to compete again, Daniels said: "I am not privy to that information. That is something her medical team will have to monitor going forward."

Sports Science Institute exercise psychology expert Ross Tucker said the timeline following Semenya's exclusion from athletics, and her return this week, suggests that medical treatment was rendered.

"This would most likely have been reducing her testosterone levels and increasing the estrogen in her body."

The IAAF had said they would make an announcement on her future in June.

He explained: "This was probably done as they were monitoring her condition, and treatment takes between six and nine months, which gets us to this point. If they've reduced her testosterone levels, then she'll slow down, because her recovery from training will be impaired. Her muscle mass will fall and her body fat percentage will rise."

He added: "I strongly suspect that, if she has had this treatment, she'll overtrain, because it must be very difficult to manage the new training."

With regard to a possible civil claim against the IAAF, ASA and "other bodies", Semenya's attorney Gregg Nott said: "We will definitely look at recouping possible earnings she could have received whilst she was suspended by ASA or any other body."