2019 Prefontaine Classic

Caster Semenya Added To Pre Classic 800m Field

Caster Semenya Added To Pre Classic 800m Field

Yet another twist in the Caster Semenya saga, as the South African star has been added to the Pre Classic 800m field.

Jun 18, 2019 by Lincoln Shryack
Caster Semenya Added To Pre Classic 800m Field

Caster Semenya will run the 800m at the 2019 Pre Classic on June 30, yet another twist in the South African’s plight to compete in her preferred event. Reuters initially had the report on Tuesday, which was later confirmed by the Pre Classic meet director.

The 28-year-old Semenya was originally slated to run the 3,000m at the event, a distance outside of the IAAF’s DSD restrictions that affect the 400m to 1,500m distances. However, Semenya’s reps requested that she be added to the 800m field at Pre— a Nike-sponsored event— and meet director Tom Jordan made the switch:

Semenya’s status in the sport has been in question since May 1, when the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) sided with the IAAF on their rule forcing female athletes with elevated testosterone to either take hormone suppressants or compete outside of the 400m to 1,500m events.

Semenya has repeatedly said that she will not take medication to lower her testosterone. 

However, Semenya won a small victory in her fight against the IAAF on June 3 when a Swiss Court suspended the governing body’s regulations affecting the Olympic and World champion, allowing her to compete in any distance for the time being. The court gave the IAAF until June 25 to respond to the suspension.

Semenya’s lone 800m race this season was her 1:54.98 win in Doha on May 3, which at the time was the last meet before the IAAF’s rules would prevent her and other DSD athletes from competing without restrictions.