What is the old saying, ” not with a bang, but with a whimper?”. Castor
Semenya, the 18 year old who won the 800 meters in the World Champs
in Berlin, has been cleared to compete. The entire situation was a
debacle of epic proportions, from the South African authorities who raced
her, to her Federation that put a medal above the terrible torment that the
young women has received due to questions over her gender.
Forensically, it will come out, what the issue actually was, and how it was
remedied for the medical authorities. That is not the case at this time.
The IAAF press release is short, perfunctory and without the casting of
any emotion whatsoever. It seems that, for most concerned, they hope
that all goes away. Nothing is farther from the reality when it comes to
modern media.
In the end, a young women was put on a global stage, her most personal
issues thrown into the feeding trough that is global sports. We wish Caster
Semenya much luck.
Caster Semenya may compete
MONACO – The process initiated in 2009 in the case of Caster Semenya (RSA) has now been completed.
The IAAF accepts the conclusion of a panel of medical experts that she can compete with immediate effect.
Please note that the medical details of the case remain confidential and the IAAF will make no further comment on the matter.
Caster Semenya – Biography
Born 07/01/1991 in Polokwane, South Africa
Personal Best
800 Metres 1:55.45 Berlin 19/08/2009
1500 Metres 4:08.01 Bambous 02/08/2009
Honours
World Champion – 800 Metres (12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics – Berlin 2009)
Author
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
View all posts