I don’t talk about nonsense, says Caster after another fine win

Caster Semenya put the “nonsense” of IAAF rules on women’s testosterone behind her to storm to 1500m victory at the opening Diamond League meet of the season on Friday, American sprinter Noah Lyles and Qatari high jumper Mutaz Barshim also dominating their events.

“I don’t talk about nonsense,” Semenya, the double Olympic 800m gold medallist, angrily rebutted when asked about why she never commented on the regulations to counteract hyperandrogenism, the medical condition which causes women to produce high levels of male sex hormones.

IAAF president Sebastian Coe had earlier hit a defiant note amid criticism of the new rules, insisting they were “appropriate for the sport”.

The issue is controversial because it pits principles of fair competition against the rights of women born with the condition.

Athletes such as Semenya will only be able to compete when the rules come into effect on November 1 if they take medication to reduce their levels of male sex hormones.

Semenya showed her 800-1500m double at the Commonwealth Games had set her up for a fiery start to the season.

In front of a near-capacity 15,000 crowd at the Qatar Sports Club, buoyed by dancing, chanting banks of partisan Kenyan and Ethiopian expatriates, Semenya sat in sixth of a loaded 15-strong field through the first lap in temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius.

The South African made her move with 200 metres to run, gliding effortlessly up on Nelly Jepkosgei’s shoulder and going past with apparent ease to win in a personal best and national record of 3min 59.92sec.

“The most important thing was to break the magic four minutes, and obviously we did that,” said Semenya.