Tokyo 2020 news - Caster Semenya fails to make Olympic qualifying mark in 5,000m in latest attempt
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ByEurosport
Published 01/07/2021 at 10:04 GMT
Caster Semenya, who won gold in the 800m at the 2012 Olympics and Rio 2016, is a three-time world champion in the event. However, she has not been able to qualify for the 5,000m. The South African is not allowed to compete in events between 400m and one mile without taking testosterone-reducing drugs, following a rule introduced by World Athletics in 2019.
Caster Semenya
Image credit: Getty Images
Caster Semenya failed in her latest attempt to achieve an Olympic qualifying time for the 5,000m.
The South African finished in fourth, running 15:50.12 in Belgium which is short of the 15:10.00 qualifying mark required for Tokyo 2020.
Semenya would not have been allowed to compete in Tokyo even if she achieved the time, the deadline of June 29 set by governing body World Athletics has passed with no rooms for exceptions.
"We did double check with World Athletics about the deadline and it was cast in stone. There would have been no special grace for Caster," Athletics South Africa spokesman Sifiso Cele said.
Semenya ran 15:52.28 in April, 15:32.15 in May and 15:57.12 earlier this month.
The 30-year-old can only run in 100m, 200m or long-distance races and said in February she was challenging the testosterone policy at the European Court of Human Rights with a third legal appeal.
No date has been set for her case with it likely to be heard after the Tokyo Olympics gets underway on July 23.
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