Berlin - South African teenager Caster Semenya was elibible to run in the 800 metres final set for later Wednesday at the world championships even though the ruling body IAAF doesn't know for sure whether she is a woman.

World governing body IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said the IAAF requested a gender verification process after the 18-year-old burst onto the scene this year and ran a world leading 1 minute 56.73 less than three weeks ago.

Doubts were raised because of her masculine physique and Davies said a complicated process of medical examinations has started, with results expected within the next weeks.

"We don't have any conclusive evidence that she should not be allowed to run," Davies told reporters.

"We are waiting for the report ... We simply ran out of time," said Davies, adding it would be nonetheless "terribly wrong to withdraw the athlete."

South African athletics officials were quoted as saying that they had no reason to suspect that she was a man or was born with male and female chromosomes. (dpa)