Caster Semenya to avoid testosterone test running 3,000m at Prefontaine Classic

Caster Semenya will compete in the 3,000 metres at the Diamond League's Prefontaine Classic on June 30 in Stanford, Calif., a distance she can race without reducing her testosterone levels.

Semenya, who twice has won Olympic gold in the 800, has been adamant that she will not take medication to lower her testosterone levels to comply with new International Association of Athletics Federations rules.

The race will be her first since the new rules went into effect.

Barring an appeal, Semenya can no longer compete in her specialist event after she lost her appeal against the new rules, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport stating the regulations were necessary to ensure fair competition.

Formidable field

The flat 3,000 is not contested at the Olympic Games, but a steeplechase over the distance is on the list of events.

Semenya will form part of a formidable field at the Prefontaine Classic that also includes world 5,000 champion Hellen Obiri and 2016 world indoor 1,500 gold medallist Sifan Hassan.

"It was a request from Caster Semenya's agent asking if she could run a 3,000," meet director Tom Jordan told Reuters. "Of course we said yes."

The event is sponsored by Nike, which has Semenya in its stable of athletes.

I will switch races when I want to — no man can tell me what to do.— Caster Semenya on running the 3,000 metres to avoid testosterone testing

Semenya became South African national champion in the 5,000 in April, but is some way off the leading runners in the world over that distance.

Semenya cruised to victory in 1:54.98 — nearly three seconds ahead of Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi — in her most recent 800 on May 3 at the Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar.

WATCH | Semenya dominates 1st event since CAS ruling:

Caster Semenya wins final 800m race before new testosterone rules take effect

6 years ago

Duration 6:19

South Africa's Caster Semenya won the opening Diamond League women's 800 metre race in Doha. It's the final race before new rules take effect that would force Semenya to lower her testosterone levels for the 800 or 1,500 metre races at major events.

"I will switch races when I want to — no man can tell me what to do. I'm here for a purpose, if I want to switch events I switch them, but if someone wants me to switch them, that's their own problem, not mine.

"I'm a power athlete; I can run from 100 metres to 5 kilometres, so I can run any race I want."

The Prefontaine Classic is being staged in Stanford this year while a new stadium is built in Eugene, Oregon for the 2021 track and field world championships.