Kenya's Wambui fails to move on after ban from athletics

Source: Xinhua| 2019-09-28 07:57:28|Editor: ZD
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NAIROBI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Olympic 800m bronze medalist Margaret Wambui looks uncertain of what she will become next after she was denied a chance to compete at the World Championships, which starts in Doha, Qatar on Friday.

International Association of Athletics Federations (AAF) passed a 'testosterone regulations' rule which demands that athletes with DSD (Differences of Sex Development) must take medication to suppress their testosterone before being allowed to compete.

Wambui, 24, says that she does not plan on taking any testosterone suppressing drugs. Her last race was in Doha, back in May in the Diamond League and since then, she has not raced competitively.

"No one chose to be born the way they are born," Wambui told the Olympic Channel. "We all found ourselves in this situation."

Wambui together with defending Olympic medalists Caster Semenya of South Africa and Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba among a horde of other elite athletes will be barred from competing in Doha as the curtain raises on the World Championships.

Now Wambui doesn't know how to rebuild her life after DSD regulations came into effect. Semenya has since signed up to play professional soccer, while Niyonsaba is targeting running in sprints, which are exempted from the regulation.

Kenya will only have one athlete competing in the 800m race in Doha, former world champions Eunice Sum.

The country's other prospect Jackline Wambui, who won the national trials in Nairobi clocking 1:58.79 has also bolted out.

Athletics Kenya Vice President Paul Mutwii said the 19-year-old Wambui withdrew from the world championships after failing to take a mandatory testosterone level test.

Under the IAAF's policy, which came into effect on May 8, all DSD athletes would have to reduce their blood testosterone levels for a continuous period of at least six months, and maintain those levels continuously for the rest of their athletic career, if they want to compete internationally at middle-distance events.

An excess of testosterone has been found to increase muscle mass within females and cause increased strength, stamina and physical energy. The IAAF believes DSD athletes have a competitive advantage.

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