Semenya has no time for critics
SAM CALLS FOR FINAL RULING
DEFIANT Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya has no time for her critics.
Semenya returned to SA yesterday and said she has very little time for those who tried to diminish her achievements in Brazil.
“A simple answer is that I have no time for those things‚” was Semenya’s response when she touched down at OR Tambo International Airport.
“For the support‚ I would like to thank my fellow South Africans for such fantastic support. I want to tell them that I love them and will always make them proud.
“It’s fantastic to come home to such a welcome. I am not one to be filled with too much emotion‚ but now I am very happy.”
An investigation by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) argued that the Olympic champion has an unfair biological advantage over her competitors because her testosterone level was above natural levels for women.
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam said Sascoc would follow the IAAF probe, but would like to see finality to it.
“We are not going to protect her because she can protect herself on her own‚” said Sam. “The only thing that we‚ and the athletics world‚ are saying is that it is time that the IAAF is consistent and that they also deal with the issue.
“They have been given an instruction to please give a final ruling. They can’t wait for three years and then just before the Olympic Games come up with this thing because it is unfair.”
Sam added that the IAAF’s failure to bring finality was one of the reasons why Semenya’s rivals were so critical.
“Even that girl from Britain (Lynsey Sharp)‚ you can’t really blame her because this thing has been hanging in the air for too long. We need a situation where people come forward and say ‘this is the ruling’.
“CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) has said that they can’t take this fight forward until the IAAF gives us evidence that this does affect the performance of the athlete. “They (IAAF) have not done that. They need to come forward with evidence that if you have a high testosterone you will have an advantage over other athletes. Now they can’t prove that.
“Until such a time where they can prove that‚ they must leave our athletes alone. Not just our (SA) athletes, but in Kenya‚ Russia and all over.”
Sam added that until a ruling is made by the IAAF‚ Semenya will continue to participate in international events.
He was appreciative of the support Semenya received.
“The support is fantastic. Everybody is beginning to understand now that these are tactics‚ but we are not going to fall for the trick.
“When she was younger she couldn’t take it. She is now far mature and is taking it in her strides.”