South Africa’s Caster Semenya wins gold in 800m race

Controversial South African runner Caster Semenya captured gold in the 800m race.

South Africa’s Caster Semenya won the women’s 800 meter final on Friday night at the Olympic Stadium in a new personal best and national record of 1:55.28, which is also the fastest time since 2008.

Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba tried taking the lead with 300 meters remaining in the race but Semenya unleashed her kick with 150 meters to go and pulled away for the win. Niyonsaba settled for silver in 1:56.49.

Kenya’s Margaret Wambui set a personal best of 1:56.89 as she overtook Canada’s Melissa Bishop for bronze.

Semenya’s win is not without controversy as last summer, the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the "female hyperandrogenism" policy, which was adopted in 2011 by the International Association of Athletics Federations (track and field's governing body) and deemed high levels of natural testosterone as a competitive advantage. Semenya is believed to be one of the athletes who benefits from the genetic condition yet she has never confirmed her condition.

Semenya won gold at the 2009 world championships but was later suspended from competition as she was subjected to gender testing by the IAAF.

Semenya won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics behind Mariya Savinova of Russia, who was implicated in an investigation into Russian doping by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Kate Grace, the lone American in the final, finished eighth in 1:59.57.

– Chris Chavez