Caster Semenya switches to 200 meters

Johannesburg : Caster Semenya is looking for another Olympic run. A different one, too. Banned from competing in her favorite race and defending her title, the Olympic 800-meter champion is trying to make the Tokyo Games anyway — by switching to the 200 meters.

Semenya announced her decision on her Instagram account on Friday, saying her desire "to compete at the highest level of sport" drove her to try to qualify for the Olympics in an unfamiliar race for her.

"This decision has not been an easy one but, as always, I look forward to the challenge and will work hard, doing all I can to qualify for Tokyo and compete to the best of my ability for South Africa," she said.

Under the world track and field body's highly criticised testosterone regulations, Semenya and other female athletes with high natural testosterone are barred from races from 400 meters to one mile at top-level meets like the Olympics and world championships unless they undergo treatment to reduce their hormone levels for six months prior to running.

Semenya has refused to do so, calling the rules and the medical intervention required unfair and unethical.