Semenya going to CAS to fight new rules

JOHANNESBURG: South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya will challenge a female classification rule imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The double Olympic and triple world 800 metres champion faces having to take medication to lower her higher than normal levels of naturally-produced testosterone, which the sport’s governing IAAF has deemed gives her an unfair advantage.

Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin, which affects endurance. The IAAF rule, which comes into force on Nov. 1, will affect Semenya the most.

JOINT KOREA TEAMS

SEOUL: The two Koreas, North and South, agreed to march together under a unified peninsula flag and form combined teams to compete in the Asian Games. Both sides also agreed at a round of talks on their heavily fortified border to hold a series of basketball matches in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

INDIA PLAN WARM-UPS

NEW DELHI: The Indian football team is set to play international friendlies against higher-ranked Saudi Arabia and China in the run-up to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. The event will be held from January 5 to February 1 across eight centres in four United Arab Emirates cities.

ATK APPOINT COPPELL

KOLKATA: Englishman Steve Coppell was on Monday appointed as the head coach of two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions ATK following their disappointing ninth place finish in the last edition of the tournament.