Athletics
First invitation for Semenya
2010-07-13 17:28
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Caster Semenya (Gallo Images)
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Berlin - German organisers are looking into inviting South African runner Caster Semenya back to the Olympic stadium where she won the 800m world title last year.
The director of the annual ISTAF meet, Gerhard Janetzky, said that his organisation has inquired about her start at next month's edition.
"We have inquired," Janetzky told Tuesday's edition of Die Welt daily. "Of course she is talked about, but we want to present performance."
Semenya, 19, was cleared to run again by the ruling body IAAF last week over a gender controversy. The issue became public just hours before the world championship final in 2009, and Semenya could not run again after winning the gold that day.
She is set to make her comeback at a meet in Finland on Thursday.
Janetzky said that Semenya will test her form before deciding on an appearance in Berlin. If not this year, Janetzky would like to welcome her in 2011 at the ISTAF which is no longer in the top tier of meets since the inauguration of the Diamond League series.
"We definitely want to invite her for next year's ISTAF. After all, she started her great career in Berlin," Janetzky said.