Semenya lawyers hit out at IAAF

A row between Caster Semenya and athletics’ governing body erupted yesterday as her lawyers claimed confidentiality rules had been breached for her behindclosed-doors fight to compete internationally without medical intervention.

Semenya – who appeared at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland yesterday – claims the IAAF broke rules by releasing a detailed list of five experts due to give evidence. The landmark case surrounding athletes with “differences of sexual development” (DSD) is hearing this week how the IAAF wants athletes such as Semenya, who was born with testes, to have testosterone reduced to female levels before competing internationally.

It was reported the IAAF will make an argument this week that the two-time Olympic 800-metre champion from South Africa can be classified as female despite being a “biological male”. “The arbitration proceedings are subject to strict confidentiality provisions and this information should not have been released‚” Semenya’s lawyers said in a statement.

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

The IAAF, which was not immediately available to respond, wants to change the rules to create “a level playing field”.