Injured Caster Semenya pulls out of the Commonwealth Games, New Delhi
The world 800 metre record holder Caster Semenya withdrew from the Commonwealth Games being staged in New Delhi, India on Tuesday as a result of a back injury, handling another destructive setback to the crisis hit event, which is starting from Sunday.
The Chief Medical Officer of the South African side, Shuaib Manjra said that Semenya underwent some medical tests on Tuesday in Johannesburg and reports revealed that there is an injury to her back.
“Caster also confirmed that she had been suffering serious lower back pain and had not been feeling comfortable during her past few races,” claimed a statement released by the South Africa Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
Shuaib informed the media that the health and well being of the athletes were their first priority. He further said that her absence robbed the South African side of a potential gold medallist. Despite that, the sprinter still did not want to risk a critical
injury particularly with next year’s World Championships and the 2012 Olympics Games fast approaching.
Majra further added that forcing an injured player to contest the Commonwealth Games would be of no use in Delhi.
"It would serve no purpose to have an athlete in New Delhi who was struggling with any sort of injury that would compromise performance. It is our medical view that physically and emotionally she would not be capable of doing justice to her talent at an
event of this magnitude,” claimed Manjra
The 19-year-old Semenya was included in the South African team for the Commonwealth Games in August; one month after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) concluded a controversial investigation regarding her gender that kept her
away from the sport for nearly 11 months.
The professional runner from South Africa had impressed everyone since her comeback, improving slowly over the course of a variety of tune-up events heading to the New Delhi Commonwealth Games. She broke the 1:59 seconds record in the 800 metre event back
in September in Milan.
Caster gained popularity when she lowered her personal best in the 800 metres by more than four seconds at the African Junior event in 2009. However, the win raised questions regarding her deep voice and muscular physique, stoking doubts over her s*x.
This scandal emerged weeks later after Caster dominated the field and did well to win a gold medal at the World Championships in Berlin.
Following the competition, the IAAF banned Caster from the event and asked her to submit a s*x test, causing a huge political reaction in South Africa.
Almost a season later, the runner was restored as a result of exhaustive negotiations between the medical team of the International Association of Athletics Federations and South Africa, which was presided over by an intermediary. All terms and conditions
of the agreement however have remained totally private and confidential.
Meanwhile, Shuaib further explained on Tuesday that no final decision has been taken with regards to South Africa's long jump expert Khotso Mokoena and men's 800 metre world winner Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, whose inclusion at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi is in
doubt as well.
He said that the final decision will be based on the reports of Mbualeni’s MRI scan along with Mokena’s readiness after his comeback from injury.
"We are waiting for the result of an MRI scan done on Mulaudzi on Tuesday and we have to check Khotso's readiness in playing at a tournament post recovery from an injury,” declared Shuaib on Tuesday.
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