Despite a season in which she was unbeaten and set yet another national record in the women’s 800m, South Africa’s Caster Semenya was not one of the five finalists for female World Athlete of the Year announced by the IAAF on Monday.
Semenya was one of the initial 10 nominees for female World Athlete of the Year announced last month.
In 2018 she was unbeaten in her nine 800m finals including the Commonwealth Games, African Championships, Diamond League final and Continental Cup.
She is also Commonwealth champion at 1500m, African Champion at 400m and has set world-leading times this year in the 800m and 1000m.
Despite her incredible achievements this season, the IAAF still did not include the 27-year-old in the final list. The IAAF are seeking to introduce new regulations which will force athletes with hyperandrogenism to take testosterone-lowering medication in order to keep competing.
Instead, Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech is the only African representative among the five finalists.
The other finalists are:
The winners will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2018 on December 4 in Monaco
.- African News Agency (ANA)
