Athletics world champion Caster Semenya has been so traumatised by the gender testing debacle that she has informed the University of Pretoria that she is unable to write exams, Beeld reported on Thursday.

Her trainer, Michael Seme, told the Afrikaans daily that he suspected the trauma of the questions around her gender was only hitting her now.

"Her head is very tired," said Seme.

"Fortunately, the university has a good understanding of her situation and made it clear to her that exams are the last thing she should worry about at the moment.

"It is very important for all of us that Caster deals with the trauma in her own way, but we are all there for her if she needs us.

"She will write exams when she is ready."

Semenya is studying Sports Science at the university.

She won the 800m during the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August. However, the significant improvement in her time, her masculine physique and deep voice drew her gender into question.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ordered gender tests on 18-year-old Semenya, but has refused to comment on reports that it showed she was a hermaphrodite.

Several organisations have called for the axing of Leonard Chuene ? the head of Athletics SA ? for the manner in which the saga was handled.