Semenya loses testosterone case

Semenya, a double Olympic champion, was fighting measures imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that compel “hyperandrogenic” athletes – or those with “differences of sexual development” (DSD) – to lower their testosterone levels if they wish to compete as women.

OLYMPIC gold medallist Caster Semenya on Wedensday lost her appeal against rules designed to decrease naturally high testosterone levels in some female runners.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) panel of three judges gave a complex verdict and “dismissed both requests for arbitration” from Semenya and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

In a landmark judgment, the court said the IAAF’s proposed rules on athletes with “differences of sex development (DSD)” are discriminatory.

The IAAF is the governing body of track and field.

Judges ruled 2-1 that “on basis of the evidence submitted by the parties, such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF’s aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics in the Restricted Events”. South African athlete Semenya tweeted out an image after the verdict with a statement that read: “Sometimes it’s better to react with no reaction.”

The IAAF believes female runners with high testosterone levels have an unfair advantage in events from 400m to the mile.

Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion in the 800m, will now be forced to medicate to suppress her testosterone levels if she wants to defend her world title in September in Doha, Qatar.

However, the CAS judges say the IAAF should not yet apply the rules to the 1,500m. – skynews.com