Semenya to be retrospectively awarded gold

Johannesburg - The decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to ban Russia’s Mariya Savinova-Farnosova for four years and strip her of her 2012 Olympic gold medal means South African 800m runner Caster Semenya is in line to become SA’s greatest athlete.

The retrospective sanctioning of Savinova-Farnosova for doping under Russia’s infamous state-sponsored doping programme will see Semenya, who finished second to Savinova-Farnosova in London while still coached by Michael Seme, belatedly upgraded to gold.

Semenya, who won gold at the Rio Olympics last year, will now become a double Olympic 800m champion.