Chris Thompson   Chris Thompson on the internet

With the relay underway, the world athletics championships are drawing to a close. But what a wonderful week of television it’s been. The best championships I’ve ever seen, I think; it’s had everything you could expect, and much, much more.

I expected joy, and I expected heartbreak, I even expected mind-boggling world records (it is, after all, Usain Bolt we’re dealing with here), but one thing I could not have predicted is controversy over gender. It’s just nothing I’ve really seen before, despite knowing there have been tests in the past, and people who have failed them.

Because the South African athlete Caster Semenya is being asked to take these tests, lots of people are upset. And it must be horrible and embarrassing for her. But all the same, they have to be taken.

There are a number of reasons why people are suspicious (and this includes me). She has only eighteen, she has come out of nowhere, she is shattering conventional times, I think, were I to describe her in a story, I would say she was handsome, rather than pretty. Add to that the fact she has a very deep voice, and you can see why people are suspicious. So, yes, if she is a female, it is horrible, and rude – but it still needs to be done, because people have cheated in such a manner in the past before, so we know people will do anything for success.

I hope she passes her tests, and I hope if she does, she isn’t put off what would be a spectacular career. But, whilst the IAAF might be going about it in a rude manner, it is their duty to go about it.