Caster Semenya runs potentially final 800m in world leading time
Semenya with a dominant win in what could be her final 800m race
Caster Semenya, the 28-year-old South African runner who lost her appeal against the IAAF on Wednesday, ran what is likely her final 800m on Friday at the Doha Diamond League in meet record and world leading time of 1:54.98. Her race on Friday was also her 30th consecutive win over 800m.
— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) May 3, 2019
RELATED: Caster Semenya will race 800m on Friday in Doha
Semenya was met with a very warm welcome as she entered the stadium and followed with a very strong race. Second place in the women’s 800m went to Francine Niyonsaba in 1:57.75 and third place to American Ajee Wilson in 1:58.83.
Semenya is a double Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion in the event. The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced on Wednesday that it is upholding the IAAF’s rule that serum testosterone in female athletes with hyperandrogenism must not exceed five nmol/L. Friday’s race fell before the IAAF’s May 8 deadline to start medication to lower their testosterone to be eligible to compete at the world championships in September.
So according to the tweets below from reporters in Doha, Semenya says she won't take medication, won't run the 5,000, but plans to run at Worlds this year.
So either she's going to try running the 200 or she thinks she'll be able to get the IAAF ruling overturned.
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) May 3, 2019
Caster Semenya won her 30th consecutive race over 800 meters, the final one before new IAAF rules require women with naturally high levels of testosterone to take hormone-lowering medication to compete in certain events.
Semenya said "hell no" to taking the medication. pic.twitter.com/8SR2fztNxD
— AJ+ (@ajplus) May 3, 2019
But according to various news outlets, Semenya doesn’t plan to begin taking medication. According to Wednesday’s decision, this leaves her with the option of racing the 200m and under, 5,000m or over, or attempt to overturn the ruling.
I asked Semenya if she would take the medication as per iaaf regulations: "Hell no."
— Riath Al-Samarrai (@riathalsam) May 3, 2019
Business as usual ☺️❤️ @caster800m #CasterSemanya #Caster800m #IAAF pic.twitter.com/5nzG4Yoi0C
— Ntombi ? (@ntombi_nako) May 3, 2019
Canadian Aaron Brown was third in the men’s 200m in 20.20.
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