Caster Semenya Controversially Left Out of Female World Athlete Award Shortlist

South African middle-distance athletics superstar Caster Semenya has been controversially left out by the IAFF in its shortlist of five finalists for its Female World Athlete of the Year award for 2018.

The International Association of Athletics Federations on Monday announced the shortlist of five, with the winner due to be announced in Monaco on 4 December.

Semenya‚ the Diamond League and Continental Cup 800m champion this year‚ ran the fourth-fastest 800m of all time and also enjoyed top-10 rankings in the 1500m and 400m. She took the 800m and 1500m double at the Commonwealth Games, and the 800m and 400m double at the African championships.

But her amazing feats didn’t convince the IAAF‚ which wants to introduce regulations for athletes with hyperandrogenism that would require the 27-year-old Semenya to take medication to lower naturally occurring higher levels of testosterone. Semenya has challenged the move at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

Semenya had been among the IAAF’s 10 nominees named last month‚ with a ballot deciding the five finalists. A public vote counted 25%‚ the IAAF council 50% and ‘the IAAF Family’ 25%.

Her omission leaves long-jumper Luvo Manyonga as the last South African athlete in with a shot‚ with the Male Athlete shortlist announced on Tuesday.

The IAAF’s five finalists are:

Dina Asher-Smith (Britain‚ sprinter)‚
Beatrice Chepkoech (Kenya‚ steeplechase)‚
Caterine Ibarguen (Colombia‚ horizontal jumps)‚
Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas‚ sprinter)‚
Nafissatou Thiam (Belgium‚ heptathlon & high jump).