Athletics
Kenya ready to welcome Caster
2010-07-07 17:07
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Nairobi - Kenyan officials on Wednesday said they would welcome the return of controversial South Africa athlete Caster Semenya to compete in this month's African Athletics championships if she was selected by her country.
South Africa has yet to name its final squad for the July 28 to August 1 championships but Semenya, who was cleared to resume her running career by the IAAF on Tuesday, would likely make her first track appearance in eleven months here.
"We have no problem with Semenya coming to compete so long as she has been cleared by the IAAF," said David Okeyo, the Chief Executive of the African athletics championships organising committee.
"We have given a July 15 dateline for all the countries to confirm their entries. Right now we can't confirm the final list of the athletes," he added.
World's 800m silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei, who was well beaten into second place by the South African at the Berlin World championships last August, has also expressed her wish for another duel with Semenya on home soil.
"I am looking forward to meet Semenya if she comes. I believe I am in a better shape than when we last met in Berlin," said Jepkosgei, who will lead the Kenyan challenge at the African event.
Semenya has not run since leaked test results said she was a hermaphrodite following her stunning win at the world championships in Berlin in August, 2009.
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