Caster Semenya followed her decision to fight the IAAF’s rules over testosterone levels in female athletes by winning the 800 meters in imperious form at the Paris Diamond League on Saturday.
Semenya looked to be threatened in the race by Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, but she pulled away from 300 meters out to win comfortably in 1 minute, 54.25 seconds.
That was a Diamond League record, South Africa record, meeting record, personal best and the world’s best time this year.
Photo: EPA
The IAAF has ruled female runners too high in natural testosterone may not race in track events from the 400m to the mile unless they take medication.
It comes into effect in November, but Semenya has challenged the rule at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The IAAF agreed this week to abide by the CAS decision, and president Sebastian Coe denied they were targeting Semenya, the two-time Olympic and three-time world champion.
Abderrahman Samba of Qatar became only the second person to go under 47 seconds in the 400 hurdles when he clocked 46.98.
He joined Kevin Young, who timed 46.78 at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Samba earned his fifth win in this year’s league by topping a brilliant field including world champion Karsten Warholm (third), Olympic champion Kerron Clement (fifth), and Commonwealth Games winner Kyron McMaster (second).
Former world high jump champion Mariya Lasitskene won her 43rd consecutive competition with a height of 2.05m.
Ronnie Baker of the US won the men’s 100m in 9.88 seconds, heading off European record-holder Jimmy Vicaut and Su Bingtian of China, whose 9.91 was an Asia record.
American rugby sevens star Ilona Maher is to join 15-a-side club Bristol next month in a bid to play in next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, the English club announced on Monday. Maher, 28, helped the US to a bronze medal at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris and is the seven-a-side sport’s most popular player on social media. “This is a huge coup to be able to bring Ilona Maher to Bristol Bears on a short-term deal,” Bristol head coach Dave Ward said. “She is one of the biggest names in women’s sport, let alone rugby, and we believe she will
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