体坛英语新闻：Gender issue stalls South African award selections

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- South African Athletics Statisticians (SAAS) on Monday said they had decided not to select a female athlete of the year for 2009.

This follows the controversy surrounding gender-tested South African athlete Caster Semenya, who won the 800 meters title at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin in August.

SAAS also did not allocate the Harry Beinart Award in time for publication in its South African Athletics Annual.

The organization told the South Africa Press Association the awards will be finalized once the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has made a ruling about Semenya's status.

However, a photograph of Semenya has been placed on the cover of the Annual. In the photo she appears with South Africa's men's 800-meter world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi to celebrate South Africa's brilliant success in the two-lap race in Berlin.

Mulaudzi was selected as Male Athlete of the Year after what author Richard Mayer described as one of the greatest ever performances by a South African athlete on the world stage. Mulaudzi won the world title with courageous front-running tactics.