Semenya third and tired of ‘nonsense’ Hotel quarantined, stomach bug leaves athletes high & dry
STAY FOCUSED Controversial South African runner wins bronze in close race, brushes aside questions on her eligibility
As always, Caster Semenya is focused on racing, not regulations. And she has some big goals, too. The South African plans to be around for a while, and maybe dominate the 1,500m the way she has the 800.
After falling over the line to earn bronze in the 1,500 on Monday at the World Championships, Semenya was flooded with questions about a long-running dispute over whether females with excessive testosterone should be allowed to compete.
In 2011, the IAAF instituted restrictions on athletes with hyperandrogenism, but a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned that. The governing body is appealing, with a decision possible next year.
Asked about it during the medallists’ news conference, Semenya said: “I have no time for nonsense. I’m an athlete.
“For me, it’s their own decisions,” she said. “Like I said before, my focus is more on getting healthy and competing. I really don’t have time for nonsense.” In the race, Semenya moved from fifth to third over the final 100m thanks to her signature finishing kick — the one that turned her into an Olympic champion in the 800. Up for a new challenge, she’s trying her hand at the 1,500 — and is still learning the nuances of going four laps instead of two. In this one, she allowed too big a gap and couldn’t catch winner Faith Kipyegon of Kenya or silver-medallist Jenny Simpson of the US.
A recent scientific paper found that women who produce higherthan-normal amounts of testosterone have up to a 4.5% advantage over their competition on the track. That’s evidence world track officials are using in their appeal to CAS, which has the power to reinstate the IAAF rules and sideline Semenya, India’s Dutee Chand (the runner who initially appealed the ban) and others with so-called intersex conditions.
The study analysed more than 2,100 androgen samples from athletes participating in the 2011 and
I’m gutted to have to withdraw from the semifinal. My whole year has been focused on the Worlds. To not be able to go out and compete for Ireland is beyond disappointing.
2013 World Championships.
The rules were overturned in time for last year’s Olympics, where Semenya won gold. She is a celebrity back home, and carried her country’s flag at the 2012 Olympics in London.
After her latest triumph, she brushed off talk about the rules the IAAF could re-implement.
“I plan short-time goals. I don’t think about what will happen in eight months,” Semenya said.
But she said, answering these questions has become an uncomfortable routine. “Sometimes, you get annoyed or you get bored,” Semenya said.
London 2017 organisers have ordered a floor in one of the hotels used by competitors to be quarantined after an outbreak of gastroenteritis was confirmed in a hotel.
The Tower Hotel, near Tower Bridge, told the BBC on Tuesday morning that investigations in conjunction with health officers and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) concluded “they are not the source of the illness” but at least two athletes who were due to compete were forced to withdraw from their events and the German and Canadian teams who were staying there are also believed to have been affected.
“We have followed strict hygiene protocol, ensuring that those affected are not in contact with other guests and all public areas have been thoroughly sanitised,” the hotel stated.
Botswana’s Isaac Makwala, a medal prospect in the 400m on Tuesday night, was given medical dispensation to withdraw from the 200m heats after throwing up in the call room. Makwala would normally be scratched from the final after pulling out of another event.
As he missed the heats on medical advice, however, he would be able to run, if fit.
“According to IAAF medics I am apparently suffering from food poisoning which has affected several other athletes in the athletes’ hotel,” Makwala wrote on his Facebook page.
A number of other athletes staying at the same hotel also have gastroenteritis, including the Ireland 400m hurdler Thomas Barr.
“I’m gutted to have to withdraw from the semifinal. My whole year has been focused on the World Championships. To not be able to go out and compete for Ireland is beyond disappointing.
“An organisers’ statement read: “Those affected have been supported by both team and local organising committee medical staff. In addition we have been working with Public Health England to ensure the situation is managed and contained.” As a result, further advice and guidelines have been issued to team doctors and support staff -standard procedure for such an occurrence where a number of teams are occupying championship accommodation.”