World 800metres champion Caster Semenya will have to wait a little longer before learning whether she will be allowed to compete again after undergoing a gender test.

It was understood last night the teenager would be informed of the decision at a press conference arranged by the South African Ministry of Sport and Recreation in Johannesburg this afternoon.

But the meeting which was to have been hosted by the chief minister Doctor Makhenkesi Stofile was called off after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) intervened, stressing the confidentiality of the matter.

An IAAF statement said: "The Caster Semenya case is being handled jointly by the IAAF and representatives for Semenya in a satisfactory way.

"It is important to note though that the procedure has still not been completed and must therefore remain confidential.

"The IAAF will only issue an official statement at the end of the process, which is now well under way.

"Until then, all parties should refrain from making statements that could only cause unnecessary confusion."

Now the 19-year-old is expected to hear the outcome of the tests which will determine her running future by the end of June which is the deadline laid down by the IAAF, Athletics South Africa and her lawyers.

Semenya's lawyer's Dewey & LeBoeuf were invited to the press conference along with the athlete but were themselves also mystified as to whether whether Dr Stofile was in a position to bring a conclusion to the case.

"The Minister has invited us to the press conference when he will give a statement," said a Dewey & LeBoeuf spokesman. "Whether it will be positive or negative, I don't know."

Had she been cleared, Semenya had been planning to race next Thursday in Zaragoza until the meeting was cancelled because of financial reasons.

Now she is set to remain in limbo.

In response to the cancellation, Greg Nott, managing partner of Dewey & LeBoeuf's Johannesburg office said: "We have been advised that the press conference scheduled for this afternoon was cancelled by the minister because the IAAF Exco has not received a formal briefing on this matter from the medical team.

"As such it is pre-emptive to make an announcement before the IAAF Exco has considered the matter. We fully respect the minister's decision."