The pair will clash again on track in Heat 2 of the 800m semi-finals at 7.45pm tonight with a place in Sunday’s final at stake.
Semenya is favourite to add a second two-lap world title to the Olympic gold she won last summer, a race in which Sharp finished sixth despite running a personal best time.
The Team GB runner then hit out at a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that overturned an IAAF regulation that had forced athletes with abnormally high levels of testosterone to take hormone-supressing drugs.
As a result, Semenya, who suffers from hyperandrogenism that gives her elevated testosterone levels, was allowed to race freely and promptly sealed her first Olympic title.
Sharp was unable to contain her exasperation in an emotional post-race interview.
“I have tried to avoid the issue all year,” Sharp said.
“You can see how emotional it all was. We know how each other feels.
“It is out of our control and how much we rely on people at the top sorting it out.
“The public can see how difficult it is with the change of rule, but all we can do is give it our best.”
The 27-year-old Scot found herself on the end of a flurry of abuse on Twitter which re-surfaced when the BBC aired her comments again on Monday ahead of Semenya’s 1500m final.
“Lynsey Sharp doesn’t deserve to be a profesional athlete, should’ve been banned after Rio Olympics for comments after her final,” said Max Anderson.
Another user, simply going by Melvin, added: “Lynsey Sharp and co were trash for their reactions towards Semenya last year.”
And some directed their anger at pundit Paula Radcliffe, who has in the past claimed the sport would be devalued if Semenya were allowed to race.
Twitter user dj0nes_ said: “Paula Radcliffe praising Lynsey Sharp like what she said was right about Semenya? It was literally transphobia.”
Marathon world record holder Radcliffe said last year: “When we talk about it in terms of fully expecting no other result than Caster Semenya to win that 800m, then it’s no longer sport.
“There is an issue that needs to be understood a lot better.
“It’s a very complex subject and Caster should not be called out on this the whole time, she has done nothing wrong and the way her case was dealt with originally by the IAAF wasn’t fair.
“It’s is not just Caster’s rights but all the women with elevated testosterone that need to be balanced with those that don’t.”
