The Diamond League season starts Friday with scrutiny on an event that will no doubt see significant change this season -- the women’s 800m.
A landmark sports court ruling Wednesday is expected to force some top stars -- including Olympic gold and silver medalists Caster Semenya of South Africa and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi -- to take measures to reduce abnormally high testosterone for women’s events.
In that case, they would have to sit out international competition through the summer, while continuously keeping testosterone levels below the imposed limit, if they want to return to any event between the 400m and 1500m at the world championships in Doha in late September.
Friday’s Diamond League opener, also in Doha and the first of 14 stops over the next four months, will be the last one held before the testosterone-reducing rule goes into effect. Olympic Channel will air live coverage at 12 p.m. ET, with NBC Sports Gold streaming commercial-free coverage at 11 a.m.
The women’s 800m field is among the strongest, including Niyonsaba, Olympic bronze medalist Margaret Wambui of Kenya and world bronze medalist Ajeé Wilson, the American record holder. Semenya, undefeated at 800m the last three seasons, is not entered.
THURSDAY UPDATE: Caster Semenya a late entry into Doha
Here are the Doha entry lists. Here’s the schedule of events (all times Eastern):
11:20 a.m. -- Men’s Pole Vault
11:35 -- Men’s Discus
11:55 -- Women’s High Jump
12 p.m. -- Women’s Long Jump
12:04 -- Women’s 400m Hurdles
12:15 -- Men’s 800m
12:27 -- Women’s 100m Hurdles
12:37 -- Men’s 3000m Steeplechase
12:56 -- Men’s 200m
1 -- Men’s Shot Put
1:07-- Women’s 800m
1:19 -- Men’s 1500m
1:34 -- Women’s 200m
1:46 -- Women’s 3000m
Here are five events to watch:
Men’s 800m -- 12:15 p.m.
While David Rudisha has been out injured for nearly two years, fellow Kenyan and former UTEP star Emmanuel Korir has emerged as the world’s best two-lapper, winning all but one of his meets in 2017 and again in 2018. In Doha, Korir’s competition includes the second-fastest man each of the last two years, Botswana’s Nijel Amos. Amos, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist, was the only man to bear Korir in 2018.
Watch out for American Donavan Brazier, who ascended the international rankings until an injury-shortened 2018. Already in 2019, Brazier broke the American indoor 800m record and ran the fastest indoor 600m in history.
Men’s Shot Put -- 1 p.m.
Strongest field of the meet? The top seven men from the world last year. All three 2016 Olympic medalists, highlighted by Americans Ryan Crouser (gold) and Joe Kovacs (silver). Plus 2017 World champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand. The world record could be under threat given Crouser two weeks ago launched the world’s best throw since the bar was set 29 years ago.
Women’s 800m -- 1:07 p.m.
Wilson, coming off an American indoor 800m record in February, eyes her first Diamond League win since 2015. Much has changed in the women’s 800m in the last four years, with the biggest tremor coming with Wednesday’s court ruling. Wilson has never won a race with Niyonsaba in the field but is now one of, if not the favorite for gold at worlds.
Men’s 1500m -- 1:19 p.m.
Kenyans Timothy Cheruiyot and Elijah Manangoi traded the world’s fastest times the last two years, and they meet again here. While Manangoi is the world champion, Cheruiyot has lost only twice since London 2017, taking runner-up to Manangoi at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 African Championships. They are the only men to break 3:30 since the Rio Olympics. Gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz is sitting this one out.
Women’s 3000m -- 1:46 p.m.
Another juicy head-to-head featuring Genzebe Dibaba, the 1500m world-record holder, and Hellen Obiri, the 5000m world champion and fastest 3000m runner in the last 25 years. Toss in steeplechase world-record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, and it’s one of the most unique headlining fields to open a Diamond League season.
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