Gender-tested champion picked for Commonwealth Games
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Caster Semenya of South Africa celebrates after winning the women's 800 metres final during the world athletics championships at the Olympic stadium in Berlin August 19, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters File Photo] |
South Africa's controversial gender-tested 800-meter world champion Caster Semenya was one of 32 names on Wednesday added to South Africa's squad to compete in this year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India in October.
Making the announcement in Johannesburg, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam also named further representatives from track and field, rugby sevens, cycling, swimming and para powerlifting.
According to the South African Press Association (SAPA), South Africa's initial Commonwealth Games squad of 115 names was announced last month.
Eleven track and field athletes were named. Semenya is among them as she continues her comeback after being cleared to compete by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) last month.
Also included are men's 800m world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Olympic long jump silver medalist Khotso Mokoena and Commonwealth champions Elizna Naude (discus), Sunette Viljoen (javelin) and LJ van Zyl (400m hurdles).
SAPA reported that recently crowned world junior track 1000m time trial champion Bernard Esterhuizen is also in the team.
Four swimmers joined the squad: Jean Basson, Graeme Moore, Sebastien Rousseau and Charl van Zyl.
Speaking at the latest announcement Sam said: "I'm very happy to see the return of Caster Semenya. We have observed her progress closely since the IAAF cleared her to run and it's good to hear her saying that she's focusing all her efforts on the Commonwealth. The facts that she's unbeaten in her three races so far and has improved her time on each occasion are good news for us in New Delhi."
On Sunday Semenya won an 800m race in Berlin in one minute 59.9 seconds.
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