Daxing takes China Open lead
IAAF amend laws to cover Semenya
The IAAF confirmed a new hyperandrogenism rule yesterday that could prevent South African runner, Caster Semenya from competing in 800m and 1500m races.
The new regulations lay down a series of criteria for athletes with a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD) to be eligible to compete internationally.
Under the rules an athlete must be recognised at law either as female or as intersex (or equivalent) and reduce her blood testosterone level to below five (5) nmol/L for a continuous period of at least six months (e.g., by use of hormonal contraceptives).
Thereafter she must maintain her blood testosterone level below five (5) nmol/L continuously.
Semenya, double Olympic and triple world champion over 800m and who completed the 800-1500 double at the Commonwealth Games this month, responded to the new rules on Twitter:
“I am 97 per cent sure you don’t like me, but I’m 100 per cent sure I don’t care.”
Athletics authorities have struggled to find a solution to the issue that respected the rights of Semenya, while also providing what they say is a “level playing field”. China’s world-ranked 1 426 Jin Daxing grabbed a shock lead after the first round of the $3.2 million China Open yesterday in just his eighth European Tour event.
The 25-year-old fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 for a one-shot lead over England’s Matt Wallace and Nino Bertasio of Italy at Topwin Golf and Country Club in Beijing.
Sweden’s Alexander Bjork and Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe shared fourth, a further shot back.
But the day belonged to little-known Jin, who has only made the cut once on a European Tour event, back on his debut in 2012.
“I played really well today,” he told europeantour.com. ‘I’m really happy with my form and I have to say I would give myself 100 marks for today’s round.
“I’ve been relaxed coming into this week because I don’t have too much expectation but I’ll just keep playing one stroke at a time, one day at a time and see how it goes for me.”
Last year’s China Open winner, Alexander Levy of France, carded a three-underpar 69 for a share of 18th.