caster semenya

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 3, 2019 South Africa’s Caster Semenya competes in the women’s 800m during the IAAF Diamond League competition in Doha. Switzerland’s top court said on 3 June 2019 it had temporarily suspended IAAF rules that oblige athletes including double Olympic champion Caster Semenya to lower her testosterone levels in order to compete in certain events. Photo: AFP/Karim Jaafar

Caster Semenya in Italy-sponsored trip to try secure Tokyo Olympics ticket

South African golden girl Caster Semenya is in Italy to try and secure her ticket to the Tokyo Olympics, Athletics South Africa confirmed.

caster semenya

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 3, 2019 South Africa’s Caster Semenya competes in the women’s 800m during the IAAF Diamond League competition in Doha. Switzerland’s top court said on 3 June 2019 it had temporarily suspended IAAF rules that oblige athletes including double Olympic champion Caster Semenya to lower her testosterone levels in order to compete in certain events. Photo: AFP/Karim Jaafar

South African golden girl Caster Semenya is in Italy to try and book her ticket to the Tokyo Olympics, Athletics South Africa (ASA) confirmed.

The two-time Olympic women’s 800m gold medalist has, on a number of occasions, failed in her attempt to be at this year’s Olympic Games.

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According to ASA boss James Moloi, Semenya told the board that she was no longer interested in running the 5000m races locally after her failure to clock the required 15:10:00.

And Moloi said the ASA board had to give in to Semenya’s demands of attempting to qualify for the 5000m races abroad because she felt she stood a better chance of qualifying.

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Moloi stated that ASA is sponsoring Semenya’s trip to Italy because they cannot imagine the Olympics without the 30-year-old star.

“Semenya is in Italy. We said that we would do everything to make her happy so that she can be able to qualify for the Games. She said that she is no longer interested in running at the local events,” Moloi told Sowetan.

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“She made it clear that she stood a better chance of running the qualifying time in Europe than at local races,” he added.

“We are here for her and we can’t imagine the Games without her,” concluded Moloi.

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Semenya’s first race is reportedly scheduled for 19 June but the full schedule is expected to be confirmed once she has secured more 5000m races.