• Athletics

Meadows calls for calm over Semenya return

ESPN staff
July 15, 2010
Jenny Meadows took bronze behind Caster Semenya last year © Getty Images
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Jenny Meadows has called for Caster Semenya to be allowed to make a low-key return to athletics.

The controversial South African returns to action in Finland on Thursday night, her first appearance since being cleared to run by the IAAF following an investigation into her gender.

Semenya blitzed the field in the 800m at the World Championships last year, when Meadows came home in third, and controversy has raged ever since.

Meadows feels the IAAF have to be backed in their decision and wants Semenya to be allowed to race with freedom.

"We have to trust the decision to allow Caster back into athletics is the right one," Meadows said. "I just hope Caster's return doesn't turn into a circus act and people don't try to treat her like something from a freak show.

"The poor girl must have gone through a really tough time emotionally and, although I believe we should now draw a line under events, not all of my fellow athletes have been so gracious."

Meadows has conceded that on a competitive level, part of her hopes Semenya's form is below what she produced in Berlin.

"Being selfish I don't want her to be as good, I don't want to just be thinking the rest of us are competing for silver," Meadows added. "But equally, on a human level, if she does run well I'll be pleased for her, as what she went through was very unfair."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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