Athletics South Africa (ASA) issued a statement on Thursday apologising to disgraced athlete Caster Semenya over the handling of the gender testing debacle that raged through South African sport last month.

Semenya won the 800 at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Aug. 19 by 2.45 seconds in a SA-record 1:55.45. But her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice had sparked the speculation about her sex, and the IAAF announced the day of the 800 finals that tests had been ordered.

It was later leaked in an Australian newspaper that Semenya had undergone the tests and found that found she was a hermaphrodite. A senior official was quoted as saying Semenya was not "100 percent" female.

Since then the athlete, and indeed ASA, have been under the microscope, with allegations and counter-allegations been thrown about. ASA president Leonard Chuene ? who has been under fire for his handling of the affair - admitted that he had lied about his knowledge of tests done on Semenya in South Africa, only to later deny the claims.

ASA says sorry

But in a statement released on Thursday, ASA apologised to Semenya, her family and the South African public.

"Athletics South Africa (ASA) has taken note of the African National Congress Caster Semenya Support Task Team media statement issued on 16 October relating to Caster Semenya and the gender verification tests conducted on her,? read the statement.

"ASA appreciates the ANC's position on this matter, fully welcomes and accepts without any reservations the findings and recommendations of the task team.

"Consequently, Athletics South Africa wishes to publicly and unconditionally apologise to Caster Semenya and her family, the President of South Africa as well as to all South Africans for the handling of her gender verification processes and the subsequent aftermath."

ASA has promised to meet with Semenya to discuss the situation.

"ASA's board will lead a delegation to meet with Caster, her family and government for discussions on the matter. Athletics South Africa hopes that this will bring closure to a very unpleasant episode for Caster," the statement continued.

"In addition, ASA are fully prepared to co-operate with any legitimate body that seeks to get closure on this sensitive matter. Further to this, ASA is willing to make presentations to the Minister of Sport and Recreation to explain the actions taken by ASA officials prior, during and after the competition in Berlin if requested."