Michael Seme, Semenya's coach, has claimed that Athletics South Africa (ASA) have put her under too much pressure by demanding that she take a fitness test to decide whether she will be selected for the African Championships in Nairobi later this month.

She subsequently failed the tests, casting a doubt over whether she will be selected for the event which is due to open on July 28.

Semenya was required to cover a 600m distance in 1min 32sec but she failed to meet the guideline on two occasions.

Seme said: "How do you pass an exam if you have only been told about it today?.

"One moment we were told she has been cleared, the next moment they just said: test tomorrow.

"How did they expect us to prepare?"

Seme admitted that Semenya has not been training properly while she waited for the decision from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) about whether she would be allowed to run again.

But he claimed that she would soon be back to her best.

Seme said: "We were never given a chance to prepare

"I am angry, but because it's a federation, I couldn't say no.

"[Her test results] were not bad at all for somebody who hasn't been competing for a long time.

"If anything, it's an indication that she will soon return to her best level.

"Caster just wants to run.

"She must be there. If allowed, we have to work on her speed quickly.

"She also needs to be ready mentally."

But ASA assistant administrator Richard Stander defended their decision to conduct fitness tests on her.

He said: We need to know what the fitness status of the athlete.

"It's a normal procedure.

"We want to help her compete in the more competitive events, which are in Europe, or the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October.

"That is why the selectors recommended the tests."

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