Johannesburg. - Despite having qualified for the 2010 African Athletics Championships last year, and with the IAAF expected to make a ruling on her gender case by June, world 800 metres champion Caster  Semenya has been left out of the South African team for the continental competition in July as Athletics South Africa (ASA) raises the bar of their qualifying criteria.
ASA assistant administrator Richard Stander, brought in to assist the embattled federation, said Semenya and anyone else who had not set qualifying standards this season had not been included in a 57-member squad named today.
And even those included in the squad will have to prove themselves during a six-week window period closer to the championships, which start in Nairobi, Kenya on July 28, or they
will not be named in the final team which ASA will announce on July 6, the deadline for athletes to set the qualifying standard.
Stander was the development manager at ASA between 1997 and 2003, before taking up the chief executive post at Boland Athletics, and he said implementing similar window periods during his time at the national federation and provincial association had substantially improved the quality of performances at championship events.
“During my period at ASA we were ranked in the top 10 in the world at youth, junior and senior level, and there are very few countries who are capable of that,” Stander said.
“One of the main reasons for that high level of performance was that we introduced six-week periods shortly before events to test the fitness of the athletes.
“It doesn't help setting the qualifying standard six months before the event. If an athlete can't reach the same standard shortly before the championships, then they're not ready to compete at international level.”
Stander said athletes invited to compete on the European circuit would have a chance to prove themselves, under the guidance of former Olympic 800m silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng, while those who are not invited to compete overseas will be given a chance to compete in South Africa.
“We used to have opportunities for athletes to compete here in June and July, but that has fallen away and you can see how our performances have dropped at international championships,” Stander said.
“Hezekiel Sepeng will link up with athletes who are invited to compete in the northern hemisphere to give them guidance, and ASA will meet with the provincial members to organise local competitions which will give the other athletes a chance to qualify or prove that they are ready.
“If the athletes had already qualified earlier in the season, then it will then be up to the selectors to decide if they are in good enough shape to represent South Africa.
“The results of this qualifying criteria will show immediately and I have no doubt that our performances will improve substantially at this year‘s African Championships and Commonwealth Games.”
SA squad: Men: Simon Magakwe (100m/200m), Leigh Julius (100m), Hannes Dreyer (100m), Wilhelm van der Vyver (200m), Thuso Mpuang (200m), Ofentse Mogawane (400m), Sibusiso Sishi (400m), Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (800m), Juan van Deventer (1 500m), Pharson Magagane (1 500m), Elroy Gelant (5 000m), Tshamano Setone (5 000m) Stephen
Mokoka (5 000m/10 000m), Gladwin Mzazi (10 000m), Lungisa Mdedelwa (10 000m), Hendrik Ramaala (marathon), Ruben Ramolefi (3 000m Sc), Edwin Molepo (3 000m St), Andre Storm (110m hurdles), Cornel Fredericks (400m hurdles), Wouter Le Roux (400m hurdles), LJ van Zyl (400m hurdles), Sors Joubert (decathlon), Cheyne Rahme (pole vault), Ruaan van Wyk (pole vault), Khotso Mokoena (long jump), Keenan Watson (long jump), Luvo Manyionga (long jump), Thumelo Thagane (triple Jump), Roelie Potgieter (shot put), Burger
Lambrechts (shot put), Orazio Cremona (shot put), Victor Hogan (discus throw), Chris Harmse (hammer throw), Hardus Pienaar (javelin), Ulrich Damon (javelin), Tobie Hothouse (javelin).

Women: Cindy Stewart (100m/200m), Estie Wittstock (400m), Mapaseka Makhanya (800m), Lebogang Phalula (800m), Lebo Phalula (1 500m/5 000m), Rene Kalmer (1 500m/5 000m), Tebogo Masehla (3 000m St), Myrette Filmalter (3 000m St), Wenda Theron (400m hurdles), Janet Wienand (heptathlon), Marcoleen Pretorius (high jump), Deone Joubert (pole vault), Honorata Saar (pole vault), Janice Josephs (long jump), Patience Ntshingila (triple jump), Elizna Naude (discus), Annemie Smith (hammer throw), Sunette Viljoen (javelin), Justine Robbeson (javelin), Tazmin Brits (javelin). - Sapa