Why Semenya is likely to miss World Championships

Caster Semenya says she will not race at the World Championships in Qatar later this year if she loses an appeal against IAAF rules governing testosterone levels in female athletes.

The South African, 28, is the reigning 800m Olympic and world champion and won over the distance in Sunday’s Diamond League meet in California.

She said: “If I’m not running 800m, I’m not running in the world championships.

“My goals are to defend my world title. So if I’m not allowed I’m not allowed.”

She added: “No 1,500m, no nothing. I’m just going to take a vacation and then come back next year.”

Semenya is currently challenging the International Association of Athletics Federations’ new rules that she and other athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) must either take testosterone-reducing medication in order to compete in track events from 400m to the mile or change to another distance.

She can race while she appeals and she won the 800m in California in one minute 55.69 seconds, nearly three seconds quicker than second-placed Ajee Wilson of the US.

It was the fastest 800m run by a woman on US soil and the twice Olympic champion has now not been beaten in the 800m since September 2015.

-BBC Sport