The controversial 2009 women's 800-metre world champion will compete for South Africa

By Scott Douglas

Caster Semenya, the controversial 2009 women's 800-metre world champion, will carry the South African flag at the Olympic Opening Ceremony on 27 July, the Associated Press reports.

Semenya erupted onto the world scene in 2009 when, as an 18-year-old, she won the world title in dominating fashion. It was later revealed that she was forced to undergo gender testing.

Semenya was cleared to return to international competition in the summer of 2010. At last year's world championships, she finished second to Russia's Mariya Savinova. She set her personal best of 1:55:45 when she won the 2009 world title. Her fastest time this year is 1:59:18, more than three seconds behind yearly leader Pamela Jelimo, the reigning Olympic champion.

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