Janeth Jepkosgei's hopes of retaining her 800 metres world title, which appeared doomed after a fall in qualifying, were salvaged yesterday when she was dramatically reinstated following an appeal by her Kenyan team.

The 26-year-old, a silver medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, had crashed to the track on the final bend in the heats as young South African sensation Caster Semenya tried to move to the outside.

However, their legs became entangled and it was the Kenyan who came off worse as she fell and was trod on by several of the other runners.

The 18-year-old South African also came close to falling, but she regained her composure and ended up winning the heat with Jepkosgei coming in a forlorn last.

However, the Jury of Appeal at the world championships issued a statement later yesterday which cleared the champion to take part in the semi-finals today.

"A protest was filed by the Kenyan team following Heat 1 of the 800m women," read the statement.

"The jury deliberated that Kenyan athlete Janeth Jepkosgei had been disadvantaged by the action of South African athlete Caster Semenya. Consequently, Janeth Jepkosgei was allowed to advance to the next round."

The decision keeps alive Jepkosgei's hopes of avenging her defeat to teenage compatriot Pamela Jelimo in the Olympic final last year.

Semenya, who produced two amazing performances earlier this year to take the South African junior 800m and 1,500m titles, indicated that she was not certain to be fit for the semi-finals after the clash with the Kenyan.

"I don't know what happened (about the incident that led to the fall)," she said. "I didn't see anything because I was looking forward.

"I just saw the Kenyan fall and I tried to jump over her. However, I twisted my ankle in doing so. At the moment I have no feeling in my ankle. I need to see the physio to check my leg. If it's not good I'll quit."