The 800m specialist switched over to the 5000m, but thus far she has failed to come anywhere close to the qualifying time.

The cancellation of the 2021 African Athletics Championships in Nigeria will come as a devastating blow to Semenya, as this would have been one last time to meet the standing to board the plane to Tokyo.

The qualifying time to the summer games is 15 minutes and 10 seconds, while Semenya's personal best in the distance is 15 minutes 32.15 seconds.

Semenya will not be able to defend her back-to-back Olympic 800m titles following World Athletics enacting regulations prohibiting women with differences of sexual development (DSD) being prohibited from competing in events from the 400m to the mile, unless they take home suppressors.

Semenya has refused to take the drugs, which may have several severe side-effects.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport