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Crowds greet gender-test athlete Crowds greet gender-test athlete
(30 minutes later)
Controversial world champion athlete Caster Semenya has arrived home in South Africa to a hero's welcome.Controversial world champion athlete Caster Semenya has arrived home in South Africa to a hero's welcome.
Hundreds turned out to greet Ms Semenya and fellow medallists, men's 800m champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and long jump silver medallist Khotso Mokoena.Hundreds turned out to greet Ms Semenya and fellow medallists, men's 800m champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and long jump silver medallist Khotso Mokoena.
Police restrained the singing and dancing crowds as she left the airport.Police restrained the singing and dancing crowds as she left the airport.
South Africans have rallied behind Ms Semenya, who was asked to take a gender test just hours before winning the 800m final in Berlin last week.South Africans have rallied behind Ms Semenya, who was asked to take a gender test just hours before winning the 800m final in Berlin last week.
The whole team is expected to meet President Jacob Zuma later.The whole team is expected to meet President Jacob Zuma later.
The BBC's Karen Allen in Johannesburg says the intention is to shift the emphasis back to the country's sporting achievements and show that it stands proud despite the controversy.The BBC's Karen Allen in Johannesburg says the intention is to shift the emphasis back to the country's sporting achievements and show that it stands proud despite the controversy.
Racism chargeRacism charge
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje at the OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg says hundreds of people, led by the ANC women's league, gathered to welcome the South African team, including Caster Semenya. People gathered at the OR Tambo airport wearing the national colours of gold and green, and singing and dancing as they waited.
Some are wearing the national colours of gold and green and are singing and dancing as they wait. SEMENYA'S WELCOME Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Johannesburg airport
Others held up messages of support. One poster declared Ms Semenya "our first lady of sport", the Associated Press reported. Large crowds have gathered at the OR Tambo international airport to welcome Caster Semenya. Most were here from as early as 0600 and braved the chilly winter morning.
Ms Semenya's parents were at the airport to welcome their daughter home, AP said. There is an air of excitement with crowds dancing and cheering in celebration of the team's return. People of different ages and races have united in support of the "golden girl". Vuvuzelas (plastic horns generally used at football matches) are blaring, some people are beating drums while others are dancing to songs from the local artists who are performing here.
Others held up messages of support. Posters read "our first lady of sport", "welcome home Caster, our champ"  and "Caster 100 percent female".
After their arrival the athletics team was whisked off to the airport's parking area where more crowds waited to get a glimpse of them.
Ms Semenya's family were at the airport to welcome their daughter home.
AFP news agency quoted her uncle, Ben Semenya, as saying: "Caster is a girl...I am not worried about that too much. Caster is like my child. I know where she comes from. For myself, I know Caster is a girl."
The ANC Youth League has accused the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) of racism.The ANC Youth League has accused the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) of racism.
"We must celebrate our athlete's victory despite the attempts by racist institutions to undermine what she has achieved. We are proud of her," ANCYL's national spokesperson Floyd Shivambu told the BBC."We must celebrate our athlete's victory despite the attempts by racist institutions to undermine what she has achieved. We are proud of her," ANCYL's national spokesperson Floyd Shivambu told the BBC.
They [tests] suggest that women can only perform to a certain level and that those who exceed this level should be men ANC women's league The complexities of sexual identity 'We know Semenya is a girl' They [tests] suggest that women can only perform to a certain level and that those who exceed this level should be men ANC women's league The complexities of sexual identity 'We know Semenya is a girl'
Ms Semenya's family in Limpopo province have insisted that she is a girl and shown the BBC her birth certificate, which states she is female. Ms Semenya's family in Limpopo province have shown the BBC her birth certificate, which states she is female.
Athletics South Africa President Leonard Chuene last week told a local paper that he had to "persuade" the athlete to go to the podium to accept her gold medal because the she was so upset about the gender row.Athletics South Africa President Leonard Chuene last week told a local paper that he had to "persuade" the athlete to go to the podium to accept her gold medal because the she was so upset about the gender row.
The women's league said it views the IAAF's order for "as [a] vicious attack on the dignity of Caster Semenya and all women athletes because they suggest that women can only perform to a certain level and that those who exceed this level should be men".The women's league said it views the IAAF's order for "as [a] vicious attack on the dignity of Caster Semenya and all women athletes because they suggest that women can only perform to a certain level and that those who exceed this level should be men".
IAAF President Lamine Diack accepted that the affair was handled badly.
I deeply regret that confidentiality was breached in this case and that the IAAF were forced into a position of having to confirm that gender testing was being carried out on this young athlete," AP quoted him as saying on Sunday.
"It is a regrettable matter and I have requested an internal inquiry to ensure that procedures are tightened up and this never happens again."
The IAAF ordered Ms Semenya to take the "gender verification test" after she improved her personal best by more than eight seconds over the past year.The IAAF ordered Ms Semenya to take the "gender verification test" after she improved her personal best by more than eight seconds over the past year.
The IAAF stresses that it does not suspect her of deliberately cheating but questions whether she may have a rare medical condition which gives her an unfair advantage.The IAAF stresses that it does not suspect her of deliberately cheating but questions whether she may have a rare medical condition which gives her an unfair advantage.