Caster: IAAF to hold off, says Coe
CASE: WORLD BODY CONFIDENT IT WILL GET ITS WAY
Cas to rule on ASA appeal by the end of March next year.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) remains confident of winning an upcoming legal battle, despite postponing the implementation of a rule restricting hyperandrogenic athletes from competing against women at international level in certain events.
While the controversial new rule was expected to be implemented on November 1, the IAAF said yesterday it would hold off for six months, until after an appeal filed by middle-distance runner Caster Semenya and national federation Athletics South Africa had been heard.
“The IAAF remains very confident of the legal, scientific and ethical bases for the regulations, and therefore fully expects the CAS to reject these challenges,” the body said in a statement.
The new rule, which was being contested by Semenya and ASA, would force DSD (differences of sexual development) athletes to either lower their natural testosterone levels in certain disciplines or compete in a separate category.
“Prolonging the uncertainty for athletes looking to compete in these distances next year and beyond is unfair, so we have reached a compromise with the claimants,” said IAAF president Sebastian Coe.
“We have agreed not to enforce the regulations against any athlete until the contested regulations are upheld.
“In exchange, they have agreed not to prolong the process. All athletes need this situation resolved as soon as possible.”
The IAAF had been accused of targeting Semenya after enforcing the rule on distances ranging over 400m to the mile (1.60km), which were the same events in which the world and Olympic 800m champion had excelled in recent years.
The world body had faced widespread criticism, with the latest allegations being raised by a group of sub-committees at the United Nations, who had told the IAAF in a letter that the new rule could violate athletes’ human rights.
The CAS hearing was expected to start in February and a ruling on the case is expected by the end of March.