South African athlete Caster Semenya can return to competition with immediate effect, the IAAF have confirmed.
Semenya said: ‘I am thrilled to enter the global athletics arena once again and look forward to competing with all the disputes behind me.’
Semenya's lawyer Greg Nott revealed that negotiations over the athlete's return to action with the IAAF had been a protracted process.
‘Our direct negotiations with the IAAF representatives, through the mediator, have been ongoing for 10 months,’ he said.
‘Meetings have been held in Monaco, Istanbul and Paris, but due to the nature of the matter the parties resolved to keep the negotiations confidential.’
But Nott reiterated the IAAF's position that all details of the settlement will remain confidential.
The statement from the governing body read: 'The IAAF accepts the conclusion of a panel of medical experts that she can compete with immediate effect.
'Please note that the medical details of the case remain confidential and the IAAF will make no further comment on the matter.'
Another member of Semenya's legal team, Jeffrey Kessler, said: ‘We are delighted that Caster is finally being permitted to compete with other women, as is her legal and natural right.
‘Hopefully, this resolution will set a precedent so that no female athlete in the future will have to experience the long delays and public scrutiny which Caster has been forced to endure.’
The settlement brings to end one of the most controversial stories in sport.
As recently as last month South African sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile had called a news conference in Johannesburg which was set to reveal that Semenya had been cleared to return to the track, but that was cancelled after the IAAF said they were not in a position to reveal their decision.
The furore over Semenya's sexuality erupted after she lowered her personal best in the 800 metres by over four seconds at the African Junior Championships prior to the World Championships in Berlin. Her time of one minute 56.72 seconds meant she had lowered her personal standard by seven seconds in just nine months. She went on to lower her personal best to 1:55.45 in Berlin.
Her performance in Mauritius prompted the ASA to carry out a gender test on Semenya before she departed for Germany.
The ASA president at the time, Leonard Chuene, denied that such a test had taken place prior to Semenya competing in Germany, before admitting he had lied and being suspended along with the rest of the ASA board.
It was also later revealed that Chuene had ignored a request from the ASA team doctor to withdraw Semenya from the team for Berlin.
