IAAF Diamond League - Rabat: Semenya declines late invitation
Updated 17:26, 09-Jul-2019
South African world 800 meters champion Caster Semenya has turned down a late invitation to compete at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rabat, Morocco. Organizers extended a late invitation to her, having initially opted to sideline the South African from the competition, in light of her protracted battle with the world athletics governing body over gender rules. CGTN'S Saddique Shaban is in Morocco and now reports.
The organizers of the African leg of the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Morocco were left exposed and ridiculed for declining to extend an invitation to South African 800M champion, Caster Semenya.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Moroccan athletics association and the meet organizers were compelled to change their mind late on Friday, opting to send an invitation to the Olympic champion.
ALAIN BLONDEL RABAT DIAMOND LEAGUE ORGANIZER "We invited Caster. It is a difficult situation worldwide, concerning her, concerning the DSG situation and it is something that is not under our control. But we invited her, it was too short or whatever, but it was a sports reason that we received from her management."
However, the African champion has received support from fellow South African champion Luvo Manyonga.
LUVO MANYONGA SOUTH AFRICAN LONG JUMPER "On Sunday, I will be jumping for her because she is going through so much and I want to make sure that I raise South African flag and also want to give love to her wherever she is. If she does not come, it doesn't matter, we are still here as a country."
Sunday's race has some of the best runners in the world, seeking to extend their winning streaks and improving their performance going to the world championship.
DAFNE SCHIPPERS DUTCH SPRINTER "It is my first time in Rabat, so it always exiting because it is new. I am very happy and feeling good and the progress is coming, so I am glad to be here."
SIFAN HASSAN DUTCH LONG DISTANCE RUNNER "I am not in very good shape now, because I just started my training. I am just going to have fun, it does not matter what kind of race it will be, I am going to enjoy it."
SADDIQUE SHABAN RABAT, MOROCCO "A quality field has been assembled for the fifth leg of the IAAF Diamond League meeting here in Rabat on Sunday. But Caster Semenya will not be among them. The South African world and Olympic 800m champion say the invitation came a little bit, too late. Saddique Shaban, CGTN, Rabat, Morocco."