The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal by South Africa’s iconic athlete Caster Semenya, which challenged new International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules regulating testosterone in female athletes.
Under the new IAAF rules, which will apply to women events between 400 metres to the mile, athletes classed as having DSDs will have to reduce their blood testosterone level to below five (5) nmol/L for a period of six months before they can compete. They must then maintain it below that level continuously.
While the IAAF says the rules are essential to preserve a level playing field, the two-time Olympic 800m champion said they are “unfair”, and that she should be allowed to “run naturally, the way I was born”.
Semenya has dominated the 800m race over the last decade, a period in which she became a favourite among South African athletics fans.
Before Wednesday’s ruling, Semenya had gotten backing from the South African government and some fellow athletes, including Olympic 400 metres champion Wayde van Niekerk.
“She’s fighting for something beyond just track and field, she’s fighting for woman in sports, in society and I respect her for that,” Van Niekerk told reporters last week.
“I will support her and with the hard work and talent that she’s been putting into the sport. With what she believes in and what she’s dreaming for, I’ve got a lot of respect for her.”
