Paris (AFP)

Time is running out for Rénelle Lamote, who has not yet composted her ticket for the Doha Worlds (27 September - 6 October), but the 800m European vice-champion, competing Sunday at the Diamond League meeting of Birmingham, is not really the type to gamberger.

The French Athletics Federation (FFA) has already unveiled a provisional list of 42 athletes assured to be from the trip to Qatar and Lamote is not listed. Blame it on a late start due to physical glitches (hip, Achilles tendon) that prevented her from achieving the "required performance level" by the FFA (2: 00.20) or the IAAF minima (2: 00.60) to be selected.

In just three outings this summer, the 25-year-old has not done better than a time of 2 min 01 sec 21 despite two successes at the French Championships and the Euro team.

But no question of panic, even if the fateful date of September 6, which will close the qualifying for Doha, is fast approaching and he has only two meetings left to go (Birmingham and Paris, August 24) to win the precious sesame.

"I'm waiting for a race where I could express myself thoroughly from A to Z, explained the native of Coulommiers.The period is delicate because the main thing is to qualify for Doha but I think that if I qualifies, I'll have time to train until the Worlds so I'll be better than Berlin (European Championships in 2018 where she finished 2nd in 2: 00.62, ed.) There I have very good sessions So in Doha I'll be in shape, that's for sure. "

- Mark your territory -

No stress either on the side of his management, which is convinced that the quest for now unsatisfied minima is a slight counter-time.

"Even if it's disturbing not to have made the minima for the moment, there is not an incredible pressure either," his coach Thierry Coffin told AFP, "you just have to get rid of it. Physically, it is well worth it, it would be tangent to the physical level, it would be a little more worried.Now, we know that it takes the conditions to do them and a priori in Birmingham, there should be these conditions. The particularity of the 800 m is that it is the others who make you do the performance.

Beyond the clock, there will also be in Birmingham the desire for the double European silver medalist to mark his territory and try to garner points on the psychological level vis-à-vis his rivals, in view of the big event World.

"She could double that weekend," said Thierry Coffin, "make the minima and position yourself against the other girls by showing that she is there."

- New perspectives without Semenya -

Once his ticket is secured, new prospects could open up for Lamote in Doha in the absence of hyperandrogenic athletes, such as Caster Semenya, since the introduction of the new rules of the International Athletics Federation (IAAF), which forces them to lower their testosterone levels to compete over distances ranging from 400 m to 1609 m.

"I tell myself that I have all my chances to bring back a medal, said the Frenchwoman.A Doha, I will not be afraid of anyone.I can really think of a podium whereas before it was very complicated. a starting line with Semenya, we thought there would be two races in the race, we could not go to the same pace as Semenya, it was impossible, it's going to be totally different. "

"Last year before the Diamond League in Paris, I calculated the distance that could put me Semenya, if it was 1:55 and I barely 1:59, she added.That was 30 m, I was afraid of the difference in level between Semenya and I. There, I tell myself that I would not have to do that kind of calculation anymore. "

But before thinking of glory in Qatar, there are these pesky minima to fetch ...

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