Semenya lawyers claim dirty tricks in landmark case

LAWYERS for Caster Semenya (right) have accused the IAAF of using underhand tactics to gain public support at the start of their highly contentious dispute at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne this week.

The two-time Olympic 800m champion is challenging the introduction of revised eligibility rules for athletes with disorders of sexual development (DSDs) in a case that could have enormous implications for intersex and transgender athletes in all sports.

On Friday, South Africa’s sports minister Thokozile Xasa launched a social media campaign to back her compatriot and accused the IAAF of racism and breaching Semenya’s human rights.

World athletics’ governing body responded yesterday with a press release that restated its case and listed five of the experts it intends to call at CAS.

An hour later, however, Semenya’s lawyers issued a statement that strongly criticised the move and questioned the IAAF’s motives.

“The arbitration proceedings are subject to strict confidentiality provisions and this information should not have been released,” they said.

“Ms Semenya believes the IAAF press release is a clear breach of the confidentiality provisions that were orchestrated in an effort to influence public opinion.”