Caster Semenya Joins South African Soccer Club
Caster Semenya Joins South African Soccer Club
Caster Semenya has signed with a South African soccer club after IAAF testosterone regulations have kept her out of the 800m.
Update (9/10): Semenya tweeted on Saturday that her track career is not over despite her pursuit of soccer:
Being a footballer doesn't mean I'm no longer a track and field athlete.Just making things clear. pic.twitter.com/15G4u5P120
— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) September 7, 2019
Olympic champion Caster Semenya appears to have begun the next phase of her athletic career. The 800m runner has signed with the South African soccer club JVW in the SASOL League.
Happy to announce my signing with @jvwgirlsfootball for 2020 season. Looking forward to this journey. ? pic.twitter.com/9Urd7aQ3NF
— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) September 6, 2019
Semenya, who is barred from competing in distances from 400m to the mile unless she regulates her testosterone to meet new IAAF requirements, last competed at the Prefontaine Classic at the end of June. There, she won her 31st consecutive 800m race, a streak that dates back to 2015.
When the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in the IAAF’s favor on DSD athletes, Semenya said she did not plan to take hormones to lower her testosterone and wouldn’t move up in distance to compete in an eligible event.
The transfer window for the 2019 season is closed so Semenya’s first appearance with the JVW won't come until 2020.