Semenya to finally get her gold medal from ‘11 worlds

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 12, (AP): Caster Semenya is finally getting her gold medal from the 2011 world championships after Russian runner Maria Savinova was stripped of the title for doping.

But Semenya won’t attend a medal reallocation ceremony at the upcoming world championships in Doha, Qatar, South Africa’s track federation said on Thursday.

Semenya was barred from defending her latest 800-meter world title in Doha because she has refused to follow new IAAF rules requiring her to medically reduce her natural testosterone level to be allowed to compete in certain races, including her favorite event.

Instead, Athletics South Africa will receive the medal from the world track body on Semenya’s behalf in Doha and decide on an appropriate event to hand the medal to Semenya in South Africa, it said.

The medal reallocation is happening after the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2017 upheld Savinova’s doping ban, nullifying her results from 2010 to 2013. She was also stripped of her 2012 Olympic gold in the 800 meters. That title has also gone to Semenya,

Semenya

who finished second in that race, too.

Semenya, who has two Olympic and three world titles in the 800, has, since July, not been allowed to compete at top-level track meets in distances from 400 meters to one mile because she has refused to take hormone-suppressing medication in line with rules introduced by the IAAF last year.

Semenya has challenged the rules twice in court. She lost at the Court of Arbitration for Sport this year and her second legal appeal is still being considered by the Swiss supreme court.

If she fails in court a second time, Semenya may also be unable to defend her Olympic title next year in Tokyo.

Semenya is one of several elite female athletes with differences of sex development condition, which results in male and female biological characteristics. She was legally identified as female at birth and has been identified as female her whole life but was born with the typical male XY chromosome pattern and has testosterone levels higher than the typical female range.

The IAAF says testosterone gives her an unfair athletic advantage over other female runners and she must reduce it if she wants to run at the Olympics, world championships and Diamond League meetings.

McIlroy admitted he was surprised to win the award over Koepka, who last month was named PGA of America Player of the Year and considered the front-runner after finishing in the top-five at each major, including at the PGA Championship where he picked up his fourth major title.

“Players don’t just feel that four weeks a year is important,” said McIlroy. “It’s a huge vote of confidence from the players that we play for more than just maybe what the narrative suggests.

“I thought maybe Brooks wining the PGA Championship this year was going to be the difference maker but the other players thought differently. I am very honoured that they thought enough of my season to give me this award.”

When asked if he would rather have a year like 2019 or 2014 – when he won consecutive majors at the British Open and PGA Championship, sandwiched around his win at the WGCBridgestone Invitational – McIlroy took a few moments before replying.

“Every year is different. I’ve already had a year like 2014, I might have a year like that again,” said McIlroy. “I’m happier with where my game is now. I feel like I’m a better player now than I was in 2014. And that gives me a lot going forward.”

South Korean Im Sung-jae was voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year after a campaign in which he had seven top10 finishes in 35 events and was the only rookie to make the Tour Championship. Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd (lower right), fends off two Minnesota Lynx players to get off a shot during the first half

of a WNBA basketball Western Conference semifinal on Sept 11 in Everett, Washington. (AP)

CHICAGO, Sept 12, (AP): Diamond DeShields scored 25 points and the fifthseeded Chicago Sky used a dominating second half for a 105-76 win over the eighth-seeded Phoenix Mercury in a first-round, winner-take-all playoff game.

Astou Nadour and Stefanie Dolson added 16 points apiece for the Sky, who play at fourth-seeded Las Vegas on Sunday in the singleelimination second round. Allie Quigley had 15 points, Cheyenne Parker had 11 off the bench and Courtney Vandersloot had nine points to go with 11 assists as Chicago was making its first playoff appearance since 2016.

Phoenix only trailed 44-41 at halftime despite losing league-leading scorer Brittney Griner with a left knee injury with 8:18 left in the second quarter. Griner was called for an offensive foul setting a screen on Quigley, and it appeared there was knee-toknee contact. Griner went to the locker room with the help of injured star Diana Taurasi, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Griner returned to start the third quarter with a knee brace, playing briefly before going to the bench for good. She had six points, more than 14 below her average. Chicago used a 12-0 to start the second half and the Sky didn’t look back.

In Everett, Washington, Jordin Canada scored a career-high 26 points and the defending WNBA champions Storm beat the seventh-seeded Lynx.

With Jewell Loyd adding 22 points, the No. 6 Storm, who play at thirdseeded Los Angeles on Sunday in the single-elimination second round, got 48 out of their back-court. Minnesota had one point from starting guards Odyssey Sims and Danielle Robinson. Mercedes Russell contributed 13 points for Seattle.

Sylvia Fowles scored inside with 5:52 to play in the fourth quarter to pull Minnesota within 71-67. The Lynx then went nine straight possessions without scoring. By the time Napheesa Collier made a free throw with 1:11 to play, Seattle was up 76-68.

Damiris Dantas led the Lynx with 20 points, Collier had 19 and Fowles 11. Fowles also had 11 rebounds and Collier 10. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Collier is the third rookie in WNBA history to produce a double-double in their playoff debut, joining Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings.

Seattle led 29-21 after one quarter as Canada and Loyd scored 11 points each. Minnesota stayed close because of its frontcourt production but never led after the opening minutes.

Trailing 64-59 entering the fourth quarter, Minnesota got an early basket but Seattle reserves Shavonte Zellous and Sami Whitcomb combined for seven points to push the lead to 10. The Lynx answered with six points but then went cold with six turnovers and four missed shots before Dantas hit a 3 in the final minute.