The Kintyre Forum

Jonah Fisher, BBC News, Johannesburg

The sport of athletics, both in South Africa and internationally, has let Caster Semenya down. Thanks to the leaks and lies of the IAAF and Athletics South Africa respectively, what should have been a profoundly personal matter turned into global front page news. The result: an 18-year-old from a remote village is in hiding and suffering from severe emotional stress. Having been criticised for only securing one medal at the Beijing Olympics, the South African team was feted for their three at the World Championships. But Semenya's victory looks to have come at a heavy price both for the athlete and the reputation of South African athletics.