Semenya and Samba sizzle in Paris

Caster Semenya put her run-in with the IAAF over controversial new rules on testosterone firmly to one side as she scorched to the fourth-fastest time ever run in the women's 800m at Diamond League meet in Paris.

There was also an outstanding performance by Qatar's Abderrahman Samba, who set the second-fastest time ever in the men's 400m hurdles in balmy conditions of 29 degrees Celsius (84F) at the Charlety stadium in southern Paris.

Semenya, double Olympic champion (2012, 2016) and twice world champion (2009, 2017), completely dominated her two-lap sortie, leading from gun to tape to clock a scintillating 1min 54.25sec that left the large crowd gasping.

Only Kenyan Pamela Jelimo, in Zurich in 2008, Soviet Union's Nadezhda Olizarenko in 1980 and Czech world record holder Jarmila Kratochvilova (1:53.28), in 1983, have gone faster.

"In Oslo we weren't happy with the pace and we said no pace setters this time around," Semenya said.

"I'm always about chasing records.

"I'm just a human and if you want to be an inspiration for the world and to the youth you can't focus on negative things."
- Unstoppable Samba -
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"It feels great to be the second fastest man in history. The world record is getting close but I just want to improve step by step and run fast. I've improved my technique since last year and who knows, maybe I can be one second faster next year!"
- 44 for Lasitskene -
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