Career best for Mulaudzi!

Monday 07/09/2009

I ran the Riebeek Kasteel 21 in the slowest time since July 2008. Was a bit nervous as I was on medication so decided to run the first 8km's with a friend before testing the waters. Still ran with some discomfort so hope there's no backlash. Doing more tests Wednesday.

Career best for Mulaudzi

World 800 m champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi ran the fastest race of his career at the Rieti International Grand Prix meeting in Italy on Sunday night when he clocked 1 min 42.86 sec to better his personal record set in 2003 by three-hundredths of a second.

He finished third in a very fast race behind two young Kenyans, David Rudisha (20) and Alfred Kirwa Yego (22) who covered the distance in 1:42.01 and 1:42.67 respectively. The three times were the fastest of 2009.

Rudisha's time made him the fourth fastest 800m runner of all time behind Wilson Kipketer of Denmark (world record 1:41.11 in 1997), Britain's Sebastian Coe (1:41.73 in 1981) and Brazilian Joaquim Cruz (1:41.77 in 1984).

"I am so happy for him. He crowned his career with his brilliant win in the World Championships in Berlin and now this.

"He is really talented and to achieve these performances at this late stage is something very special," coach JP van der Merwe commented after the race.

"Mbulaeni was in jubilant mood when he phoned me after the race. He said the two younger opponents were just too fast for him after a first lap of 49.36 sec.

"It was a good thing that he had not run too many races this year," Van der Merwe said.

"He is now almost certain of a place in the IAAF/VTB World Athletics Final meeting in Greece next weekend after which he will also race in China and Korea."

Hezekiel Sepeng, SA record holder since 1999, when he clocked 1 min 42.69 sec in Brussels, is the only South African with a faster time to his credit.

He was also coached by Van der Merwe at the time.

Peter van der Westhuizen (3:39.87 and tenth in the 15 00m) and Ruben Ramolefi (8:47.41 over 3 000m) were the only other South Africans at the meeting.

Wednesday 09/09/2009

My test results improved since my last visit 160/65 and I am feeling healthier :-)

Semenya gender test result 'within days'

The IAAF expects to receive the results of world 800m champion Caster Semenya's gender verification tests within days.

IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said on Tuesday it would take around two weeks for a group of medics and anti-doping experts at track and field's international governing body to analyse the results.

Davies said: "Only then with conclusive evidence would we be in a position to make an educated decision."

More at : Gender test athlete unlikely to lose medal

The process required a physical medical evaluation and includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, internal medicine specialist and gender expert.

Davies indicated that Semenya is likely to keep the gold medal she won in 1 minute, 55.45 seconds in Berlin, 2.45 seconds ahead of her closest competitor.

"There is no automatic disqualification of results in a case like this," Davies said. "This is not a doping case at present, so it shouldn't be considered as one where you have a retroactive stripping of results."

Caster Semenya proves she's all woman

SOUTH Africa's world 800m champion Caster Semenya said the gender debate that erupted around her is "a joke",after posing for a fashion shoot in a South African magazine.

"I see it all as a joke, it doesn't upset me. God made me the way I am and I accept myself," she told You magazine, South Africa's biggest-selling English-language magazine.

"I am who I am and I'm proud of myself."


Thursday 10/09/2009

ASA prevent IAAF from talking to Semenya










The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) urgently want to talk to Caster Semenya, but are apparently being prevented from doing so by Athletics South Africa (ASA).

The IAAF confirmed on Wednesday that they have received the results of gender testing done on Semenya.

It will only be made public once experts have scrutinised it and Semenya has been informed.

IAAF spokesperson Nick Davies said from Lausanne, Switzerland, on Wednesday night that experts had to review the results due to its sensitive matter. The tests were done at last month's world athletics championships in Germany.

"We can't afford any mistakes, particularly as we are already face threats to be taken to the United Nations Human Rights Council and because it has become a political matter in South Africa," he said.

Davies said that requests from the IAAF directed at ASA to contact Semenya had fallen on deaf ears.

"ASA's actions can have serious consequences for Semenya if we are not able to speak to her soon. In short, it will come down to her refusing to cooperate.

"Had it been a drugs issue, she would have been suspended a long time ago, but this is a unique problem for which the IAAF's rules do not make provision. It is important for us to talk to her about the results of the tests."

Davies added that no tests were done on Semenya in South Africa, in spite of South African team doctor Harold Adams ordering that it should be done.

It has been reported that Semenya had been tested in Pretoria prior to the South African team's departure to the world championships, but that the findings were possibly not communicated with the IAAF.

Davies also said that the manner in which ASA were handling the matter could become a huge problem over the next few weeks.

He added that ASA president Leonard Chuene had spread so many untruths about the IAAF's handling of the matter that it will be a major embarrassment for him when the facts are revealed.

"Chuene may have no other option than resigning as president of the IAAF," he said.

Davies said it was regrettable that ASA allowed politicians to get involved without having the facts at their disposal.

Semenya will keep the gold medal she won in Berlin as well as the $60 000 (R450 000) prize money, irrespective of the results.

Radcliffe to run in Birmingham

Paula Radcliffe will compete in the world half marathon championships in central England next month.

The 35-year-old Radcliffe opted not to run the marathon at last month's world championships in Berlin because she was not fit enough to compete for gold.

But the marathon world record holder was named on Tuesday in the British team for the October 11 event in Birmingham.