THURSDAY SEPT 1, 2011 FILE PHOTO FILE - In this Thursday Sept. 1, 2011 file photo, South Africa's Caster Semenya competes in a Women's 800-meter qualification heat at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea. After claiming the world 800-meter title in a stunningly fast time at her first major international meet in 2009, she was subjected to invasive and embarrassing gender tests because of her muscular build and rapid improvement in times. The teenage girl from a tiny village in rural northern South Africa recoiled amid the testing and the resultant whirlwind of speculation over whether or not she was female. The turmoil easily could have killed her resolve, and forced her into premature retirement. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
Sports

Semenya switches to 200m for Olympics

Sports Reporter

Runner Caster Semenya has said she hopes to compete in the 200 metre race at this year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

  Semenya has been prohibited from defending her 800 metres Olympics title because she refuses to adhere to testosterone regulations set by the World Athletics governing body.

  Semenya, and other female athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD), are banned from competing in races between 400 metres and the mile unless they take testosterone-lowering medication.

  Semenya must clock a 22.80-second 200 metres to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Her best time, achieved last Friday in Pretoria when winning a provincial championships final, is 23.49 seconds.

  “My dream continues to be to compete at the highest level of sport; in order pursue my goals and dreams, I have decided to change events and compete in the 200 metres. This decision has not been an easy one, but I look forward to the challenge, and will work hard, doing all I can to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics and compete to the best of my ability for South Africa,” she said.

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