“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That is his.” – Oscar Wilde.

But what would the great literary figure and wit have made of Caster Semenya, the women’s 800m world champion, who got home to South Africa this week? The poor girl (she’s only 18) has had her very identity put in question. And her athletic achievements have been undermined by her sport’s own governing body.