IAAF delays new gender rules over Semenya verdict
MONACO: The governing body of track and field will not apply rules to limit natural testosterone levels in female runners until the Court of Arbitration for Sport concludes an appeal case brought by Olympic champion Caster Semenya.
The IAAF said Tuesday it agreed to postpone the intended November 1 start for eligibility rules until CAS gives a verdict “expected on or before” March 26.
That target date is six months and two days before the start of the 2019 world championships in Doha, Qatar. If the IAAF’S rules for athletes with differences of sex development are upheld by the court, female runners will be forced to medicate to reduce their testosterone levels for six months before racing internationally from 400 meters through the mile.
Semenya is the current 800meter world champion and a likely favorite for a fourth world title to add to her two Olympic gold medals. She also took bronze in the 1,500 at the 2017 worlds in London. The IAAF expects a February appeal hearing for Semenya, who could have sought an interim ruling from CAS to freeze the rules if the track body pressed ahead with its planned start date.
“The IAAF remains very confident of the legal, scientific, and ethical bases for the regulations, and therefore fully expects the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reject these challenges,” the IAAF said.
NAGAL, MYNENI EXIT NINGBO CHALLENGER
NEW DELHI: Sumit Nagal suffered yet another first round exit, albeit, after a valiant fight, while Saketh Myneni suffered a tame defeat as India’s singles challenge shrunk at the ATP Ningbo Challenger on Tuesday.
Nagal, who has been struggling for good results this season, lost 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 after battling for little over two hours against third seed Thomas Fabbiano in the opening round. Myneni, who had qualified into the singles main draw, lost his opening match 3-6 2-6 to Renta Tokuda in one hour and 17 minutes.
Ramkumar Ramanathan had also lost his first round, leaving only Prajnesh Gunneswaran as the only Indian left in the singles competition.
SPIETH TO KICK-START SEASON IN VEGAS
LOS ANGELES: Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth will play next month in Las Vegas in his first US PGA Tour fall tournament in America after failing to meet the tour event minimum last season.
Spieth failed to meet the minimum number of PGA starts last season after he failed to qualify for the season-ending US PGA Tour Championship, opening him to a fine and “major penalty” under tour rules. But officials said last month that Spieth and the tour had reached a unrevealed “resolution” and that might have led to Spieth’s change in schedule for an early start.