Back injury forces world champ Semenya to pull out of Delhi Commonwealth Games
September 29th, 2010 - 12:55 pm ICT by ANILondon, Sep 29 (ANI): World 800 metres champion Caster Semenya has pulled out of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games on medical grounds just hours after her coach announced that she was fit to compete.
Semenya, who returned to field in July after an 11-month gender investigation, has been struggling with a back injury sustained in training.
Her coach, Michael Seme, had earlier dismissed the problem as a minor niggle. “She had a slight pain in the back, but the issue has been blown slightly out of proportion,” he had said.
“She’s going to be 100 per cent fit. We are training and will be there,” The Telegraph quoted Seme, as having said earlier.
The South African Olympic Committee doctor overruled Seme’s decision hours later.
The Olympic Committee chief executive, Tubby Ready, said the scan “confirmed that she most certainly has a back problem”.
Semenya would have been the overwhelming favourite to win the Commonwealth Games 800m crown to the world title she won in Berlin last summer. (ANI)
- Semenya likely to participate in the Games (Lead) - Sep 28, 2010
- Semenya skips African Athletics Championships, to focus on CWG - Jul 12, 2010
- South Africa's world champion pulls out of CWG - Sep 28, 2010
- Injured Semenya withdraws from CWG - Sep 29, 2010
- Kenya's Jepkosgei eyes another Olympic medal in London - May 04, 2012
- Caster Semenya to take part in Commonwealth Games - Aug 23, 2010
- Rivals 'stared and laughed at' Proteas' Semenya, claims UK athlete - Jul 23, 2010
- Caster Semenya wins comeback race in Finland - Jul 16, 2010
- Caster Semenya planning a return to the track - Jan 15, 2010
- Controversial star athlete Caster Semenya talks about life amidst gender row - Nov 14, 2009
- After World Cup, runner Semenya is South Africa's hope - Jul 12, 2010
- Caster Semenya plans to make 1,500m bid in 2012 Olympics - Feb 22, 2011
- Santhi Soundarajan stripped of medal over gender - Aug 21, 2009
- S. African gender row runner Semenya set to race against women - Jul 06, 2010
- Kenya's David Rudisha sets 800 m world record - Aug 23, 2010
Tags: berlin, caster, champion, chief executive, coach, commonwealth games, games london, medical grounds, niggle, olympic committee, proportion, seme, telegraph, world champ