Athletics
Unfit Semenya training in limbo
2010-07-01 12:31
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Johannesburg - Caster Semenya's coach, Michael Seme, said on Thursday the world 800m champion was "unfit" and merely going through the motions in training while she waits indefinitely for a verdict on whether or not she can run against women.
Semenya has not competed since winning the global title in Berlin last August, shortly after it was leaked that the International Association of Athletics Federations had ordered gender tests on the South African record holder.
And while IAAF president Lamine Diack said in May they would have made a decision on her case by the end of June, Seme said on Thursday they were still waiting for the governing body's decision.
"We are waiting for the lawyers to tell us what is happening, but we haven't heard anything yet," Seme said.
"Caster is training, but she's not fit at the moment because we don't know when she will race again.
"She can't do any speedwork or prepare to race until we know when she can compete."
Semenya initially said she hoped to return to competition in Zaragoza, Spain on June 24, but that meeting was cancelled.
Last month sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile called a press conference with Semenya, expected to shed some light on her eligibility, but it was cancelled at the last minute. Her lawyers later said they needed to present a medical team's findings to the IAAF before making the announcement.
A few days later Semenya said she would attend a three-week training camp in Pretoria with the Caster Semenya Sports Academy.
Seme said on Thursday the camp, which includes the likes of distance runners Stephen Mokoka and Thozama April, had been extended by four days and would conclude on July 11.
IAAF spokesperson Nick Davies was unavailable for comment on Thursday, but told The Citizen earlier in the week the governing body had to have an internal meeting before a decision could be made on Semenya's case.