After a spectacular performance in the 800m in Berlin at the World Championship final, South African runner Caster Semenya's gender was called into question. Afterall, se not only performed exceptionally well, but she didn't look much like a woman. The controversy can now be laid to rest, as testing shows that her testosterone levels were found to be higher than normal, but still within the range that will allow her to continue to participate in women's races.

Sources within the Athletics South Africa organization said that she was tested three years ago. Semenya had reportedly taken a standard urine test, which is taken by all athletes, instead of a gender verification test to make sure that she was eligible to compete.

The source told the Guardian:

"She was tested three years ago when she started competing and it was found that she is a woman. She may have rather high levels of male hormones but she is definitely a woman."

Another source revealed to the paper that she had been tested and found to be a woman. In addition, the source revealed that the issue of whether or not an athlete is tested has to be kept confidential, and tat the results are only made known if there is a problem.

The chair of the ASA's anti-doping committee - Chris Hattingh - said that a urine sample taken for a doping test is also often used to test the ration between testosterone and epi-testosterone. Epitestosterone is a natural steroid at the body produces, but is also used to mask the appearance of an unusually hig amount of testosterone. It is considered a prohibited substance. The person who takes a urine sample from an athlete is of the same gender, and is also authorized to check any irregularities in their genitalia.

A urine test, however, may not be enough to satisfy some of those who question Semenya's gender.