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Caster Semenya
Photo:
Fabien Dubessay/AFP
The South African runner Caster Semenya is surprisingly on the 5000 meter start list of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon (July 15-24).
The World Athletics Federation had published the revised list.
Semenya, two-time Olympic champion over 800 meters and now 31 years old, clearly missed the World Championship norm (15:10.00) with her best time of the season of 15:31.50 minutes.
After the cancellation of already qualified runners, Semenya moved up in the world rankings and got another starting place.
The women's 5000m heats are scheduled for July 20th.
It was initially not known whether she would actually compete.
"There were several withdrawals from other athletes and so there was the possibility of a late registration," a spokesman for the South African Athletics Federation told Reuters.
In addition to Semenya, there are now 13 athletes on the official World Championships start list over 5000 meters who cannot prove the World Championships norm - including Germany's Sara Benfares (15:22.56).
Semenya unsuccessfully fights Threshold
In November 2018, the world association World Athletics introduced a testosterone limit in the disciplines between 400 meters and one mile for eligibility to participate in the women's class.
On the other hand, the three-time world champion and intersexual athlete had unsuccessfully sued the International Sports Court Cas and the Swiss Federal Court.
Afterwards she concentrated on the 3000 and 5000 meters, but she was not able to build on old successes.
Semenya had publicly admitted to having high natural testosterone levels but refused to submit to the new rules.
She didn't want to undergo any treatment to bring her natural hormone levels below a certain threshold and be able to run the 800 meters.
krä/dpa/rtr