- JOHANNESBURG: Caster Semenya has reportedly withdrawn from the World Student Games because of a back injury two weeks before she is due to defend her 800-meter title at the world championships.
The South African Press Association says Semenya’s withdrawal was confirmed Thursday by South Africa’s university sports body.
SAPA says the 20-year-old Semenya was not part of the team that left for the games in China on Wednesday and will instead recover at home.
The worlds start Aug. 27 in Daegu, South Korea, and Semenya has struggled this year, only twice going under 2 minutes in the two-lap race.
She ran 1:55.45 to win at the worlds two years ago before she was sidelined for 11 months in a gender test controversy.
