A complaint would be lodged with the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights over the "undermining of rights and privacy" of South African athlete Caster Semenya.

It would be lodged by the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation soon.

Chairperson Butana Komphela said the commissioner needed to investigate the "gross and severe undermining of rights and privacy" by the International Athletics Association Federation
(IAAF).

Semenya's gender has been under scrutiny since her arrival in Berlin for the World Athletics Championship where she won a gold medal in the women's 800m race. The IAAF has asked for Semenya to undergo a gender verification test as there were doubts about her gender, given her muscular physique.

"The humiliation of Semenya was a sign of sexist action by IAAF as it undermined the achievements of women," Komphela said in a statement.

"It is a very gross action that gives an impression that the IAAF only recognises good things when they are done by men."

He said it was unfortunate that Semenya's case arose at a time when South Africa profiled the achievements of women and promoted women's rights in August.

He said there were many white female athletes participating in the competition who resembled men but were not subjected to gender tests.

Khompela slammed the IAAF's action as sexist and racist saying:
"Just because she is black and she surpassed her European competitors, there is all this uproar".

"When Caster comes back home we will welcome her as a heroine, she is our heroine, despite all the controversy."