Semenya to run in Doha on Friday

Caster Semenya is set to compete at the first Diamond League meet of the season in Doha on Friday‚ just two days after failing in her bid to have the IAAF’s regulations for women with hyperandrogenism declared invalid.

The 800m line-up features all the medallists from the last world championships in London in 2017 as well as the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Semenya won gold at both events and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi silver. Kenyan Margaret Wambui won Olympic bronze and American Ajee Wilson was third at the worlds.

Wambui on Thursday slammed the IAAF. “This life sometimes is so unfair”, Wambui wrote on Twitter. “Everything that happens, happens with a reason Caster. This is life we Africans have nothing to say in this world and [there is] nothing we can do about it, so pole [sorry] my dear.”

Also in the field on Friday is Briton Lynsey Sharp who‚ after the Olympic final‚ tearfully complained about Semenya having an unfair advantage because of her naturally occurring higher levels of testosterone.

Semenya’s lawyers have said they are considering appealing the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The IAAF’s regulations are set to kick in on Wednesday next week‚ although the world governing body has said Semenya will need to start taking medication to lower her testosterone levels if she wants to compete at the world championships in Doha later in 2019.

Two other SA athletes are on the entry lists for the Doha Diamond League‚ new SA 400m hurdles champion Zeney van der Walt and Wenda Nel.