Tough new challenges
Caster races, but the world gets smaller
ATHLETICS South Africa (ASA) says it’s prepared to go to court to challenge the IAAF’s new regulations on hyperandrogenism.
The federation said in a statement yesterday it would engage the IAAF‚ the sport’s world governing body which last week announced that athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSDs) competing in events from the 400m to the mile would have to take medication to lower their levels of naturally occurring testosterone.
The rules‚ which are to kick in in November‚ were widely considered to target African middle-distance runners‚ especially SA star Caster Semenya‚ who has competed from 400m to 1 500m.
Semenya has won international medals at 800m and 1 500m since last season.
ASA said it had consulted with Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa‚ the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc)‚ expert institutions and “other relevant organisations and individuals”.
“Based on this consultation‚ we have now taken a decision that we will challenge the IAAF on these new regulations, as we have found them to be skewed‚” said ASA.
“As a member federation we will engage the IAAF as our mother body and, if they do not change their minds on this new rule after this engagement‚ we will proceed to Cas for further assistance on the matter.”
The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) threw out the IAAF’s previous rules on hyperandrogenism after they were challenged by Indian sprinter Dutee Chand.
The Cas told the IAAF it needed to prove that female athletes with higher levels of naturally occurring testosterone received an advantage.
The IAAF has effectively sidestepped the Cas by dropping the 100m and 200m from its requirements – Chand’s events – in the requirements for DSD athletes.
That means Chand’s case at the Cas has effectively ended‚ and the matter will have to be raised afresh.
Meanwhile, Semenya will bid to move the spotlight from new IAAF rules for female athletes who have high testosterone levels firmly back to the track as the Diamond League gets under way in Doha today.
The double Olympic 800 metres champion will race in the 1 500m in the opening of the IAAF’s elite 14meet competition. It will be her first outing since the rule changes were announced.
Semenya hits the Diamond League in top form, having most recently claimed the 800m-1 500m double at the Commonwealth Games.
“God made me the way I am and I accept myself. I am who I am and I am proud of myself,” the defiant South African tweeted Tuesday.
That tweet followed two more by the 27-year-old, stating: “Opinions aren’t facts. Stop worrying about what people think about you”, and “Not everyone deserves to know the real you. Let them criticise who they think you are.”
Either way, Semenya’s trademark last-lap burst to the front of the pack will be fully tested at the Qatar Sports Club by a field including five Kenyans and four Ethiopians sure to seek to hamper the South African with team tactics.
Mutaz Barshim will wave the flag for local athletes, the high jumper and Doha native kicking off his outdoor 2018 campaign on the back of his most successful season ever.
Last year, he was crowned world champion, Diamond League champion, IAAF World Athlete of the Year and became the first high jumper since 2004 to be undefeated for a whole season.
“Last year was extraordinary for me. I didn’t lose anything,” said Barshim, who has set his sights firmly on victory at a home World Championships in 2019, Olympic gold in 2020 and the long-standing world record of 2.45m set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor in 1993.
“I always try to find things that I haven’t achieved yet and make them my target, and this is how I always find new motivation.”
Reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson of Jamaica will go headto-head with current 200m world champion and Olympic silver medallist Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands in the women’s 100m.
Also running will be 2017 world silver medallist in the 100m and 200m, Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, and her teammate Murielle Ahoure, who won gold over 60m at the world indoors in Birmingham.
The men’s 200m sees world champion Ramil Guliyev of Turkey go up against Olympic silver medallist Andre De Grasse of Canada.