Semenya news conference abruptly canceled

Organizers abruptly canceled a news conference today with Caster Semenya, the world 800-metre champion, who is at the center of a gender dispute.



The sport\'s governing body said her \"procedure\" had not yet been completed.



Semenya\'s advisers released a statement, just hours before the planned briefing, saying the Johannesburg news conference had been called off. The event was planned by South Africa\'s minister of sport Makhenkesi Stofile.



Semenya\'s lawyers say they were told the briefing had been canceled by Stofile because the executive committee of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has not received a formal briefing on Semenya\'s case by medical officials.



The 19-year-old Semenya has not run competitively since winning the 800 title at the world championships last August in Berlin. Her dramatic improvement in times and muscular build led the IAAF to order gender verification tests.



IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said the procedure has still not been completed and must therefore remain confidential.



He said the IAAF will only issue an official statement at the end of the process, which is now well under way.