In a dramatic turn, the SA track and field team to next month's IAAF World Championships has been amended yet again, though this did not open the door to some of those who were appealing their exclusion.
Instead, three more athletes were added to the squad yesterday - Gena Lofstrand (800m), Justine Palframan (200m) and Ariel Nel (4x400m relay only).
They are mainly part of the 4x400m relay which has been invited by the IAAF to fill the quotas at the August 4-13 London showpiece.
While many other appeals were rejected, only Caster Semenya was granted her wish to be entered in both the 800m and the 1500m.
She has also been drafted into the relay team that will be complemented by 400m hurdler Wenda Nel.
The latest reshuffle follows less than 24 hours after the IAAF rejected the entry of discus thrower Victor Hogan whose doping violation and subsequent ban resulted in his marks being scrapped during the qualifying period. His suspension lapsed last month.
Athletics SA (ASA) has come under criticism with some aggrieved athletes and coaches condemning what they deemed ridiculous qualifying standards the federation had set for the global track and field meeting.
ASA's standards were tougher than IAAF's and athletes had to breach the ASA A-standard, which only 18 did, while they used their discretion to pick others on IAAF qualifiers.
ASA president Aleck Skhosana, however, said the federation will not budge. "Whenever there's team selection, people will always complain. We must up the game all the time; that's what our criteria speaks to," Skhosana said.
According to a circular distributed to ASA members yesterday, "the motivation made by some of our members that all athletes that qualified according to the IAAF standards should be selected are not relevant in this case as ASA followed its selection criteria".
Despite ASA's defence, many still argued it had nothing to lose as the IAAF pays for the London trip.
ASA grants Caster's wish to double
In a dramatic turn, the SA track and field team to next month's IAAF World Championships has been amended yet again, though this did not open the door to some of those who were appealing their exclusion.
Instead, three more athletes were added to the squad yesterday - Gena Lofstrand (800m), Justine Palframan (200m) and Ariel Nel (4x400m relay only).
They are mainly part of the 4x400m relay which has been invited by the IAAF to fill the quotas at the August 4-13 London showpiece.
While many other appeals were rejected, only Caster Semenya was granted her wish to be entered in both the 800m and the 1500m.
She has also been drafted into the relay team that will be complemented by 400m hurdler Wenda Nel.
The latest reshuffle follows less than 24 hours after the IAAF rejected the entry of discus thrower Victor Hogan whose doping violation and subsequent ban resulted in his marks being scrapped during the qualifying period. His suspension lapsed last month.
Athletics SA (ASA) has come under criticism with some aggrieved athletes and coaches condemning what they deemed ridiculous qualifying standards the federation had set for the global track and field meeting.
ASA's standards were tougher than IAAF's and athletes had to breach the ASA A-standard, which only 18 did, while they used their discretion to pick others on IAAF qualifiers.
ASA president Aleck Skhosana, however, said the federation will not budge. "Whenever there's team selection, people will always complain. We must up the game all the time; that's what our criteria speaks to," Skhosana said.
According to a circular distributed to ASA members yesterday, "the motivation made by some of our members that all athletes that qualified according to the IAAF standards should be selected are not relevant in this case as ASA followed its selection criteria".
Despite ASA's defence, many still argued it had nothing to lose as the IAAF pays for the London trip.
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