Caster Semenya makes it look easy as she wins heat and goes for Olympic glory in women’s 800m

Strong: Caster Semenya ran in just under two minutes during her heat at Rio 2016 today, and qualified for the semi-finals

The South African athlete once controversially forced to undergo gender testing strongly began her quest for gold at Rio 2016 in the women’s 800 metres today.

Caster Semenya ran in just under two minutes - 1 minute 59.31 seconds - during her heat at the Olympic Stadium, and qualified for the semi-finals.

The 25-year-old has faced objection to her involvement because she has a condition meaning her testosterone levels are far higher than normal.

But she has hit back at 'haters' claiming she should not compete as her fans posted the hashtags #HandsOffCaster and #GoCaster on social media.

And Semenya has taken to Instagram to goad her detractors, saying: ‘Dear Haters, I have so much more for you to be mad at. Just be patient.’

Semenya has no womb or ovaries - but, and because, of a chromosomal abnormality, she has internal testes.

She was controversially forced to undergo gender testing by the International Association of Athletics Federations following a successful season in 2009.



Runners: Semenya (right) competes with Romania's Claudia Bobocea in today's 800m heat


Competitiors: Semenya (right), US athlete Ajee Wilson (centre), Britain's Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (second left) and China's Chunyu Wang (left) run in the women's 800m heat

It was due to a rare condition - ‘hyperandrogenism’ - which leaves her with testosterone levels three times higher than is expected in women.

Springing to the runner’s defence, #GoCaster fans have accused detractors of being sexist and racist.

They have also pointed out the physical advantages enjoyed by the American swimmer Michael Phelps, who has size 14 feet and unnaturally flexible ankles.

During London 2012 Semenya won silver in the 800m after taking suppressants to lower her testosterone levels – on the orders of the IAAF.

In the running: Semenya has hit back at 'haters' claiming she should not compete as her supporters posted the hashtags #HandsOffCaster and #GoCaster on social media


Unprecedented: 2016 is the first Olympics that Semenya is competing in without having taken testosterone suppressants

But last year, an Indian athlete successfully challenged its mandatory treatment for hyperandrogenism, and the rule was subsequently dropped.

This means that 2016 is the first Olympics that Semenya has competed in without having taken testosterone suppressants.

Since being allowed to compete with unfettered hormone levels, Semenya has clocked some of the fastest times in the world and never looked stronger.

In April she won the 400m, 800m and 1,500m at the South African national championships in just one afternoon.


Semenya prepares to compete in the women's 800m heat at the Rio Olympic Stadium


Semenya was controversially forced to undergo gender testing by athletics ruling body, the IAAF, following a successful season in 2009

She also ran her personal best in the 800m last month - leaving her hot favourite for gold in Rio with a possibility of her breaking the world record.

But Semenya's controversial involvement in the competition at all running against other women with normal hormone levels has split opinion.

Even former Team GB marathon star Paula Radcliffe waded into the row when she said Semenya's inclusion might encourage other countries to seek out female competitors with high testosterone levels to compete.

World record holder and BBC pundit Radcliffe also said her inclusion compromised the value of the 800m.