JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – World women’s 800 metres champion Caster Semenya has withdrawn from the World Student Games this month because of a back injury.
Semenya was scheduled to compete at the Games in Shenzen, China, from August 12-23 before defending her world title in Daegu, South Korea.
University Sport South Africa athletics chairman Glen Bentley told Reuters the injury was not serious.
“It is only a niggle but she did not want to risk aggravating it and thus not be in a position to defend her title at the world champs,” he said.