IAAF will respect CAS’S decision on testosterone

The International Association of Athletics Federations and Athletics South Africa have promised to respect the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Caster Semenya opened proceedings over testosterone regulations.

Semenya, pictured, has asked CAS to rule on the IAAF regulation compelling somefemaleathletesto medically lower naturally-occurring testosterone, which comes into effect on 1 November. The two-time Olympic 800 metres champion argues it is “unlawful”.

The IAAF, athletics’ world governing body, and ASA met in London yesterday, agreeing to honour any decision CAS makes.

A statement issued by the IAAF said: “The meeting was cordial with both organisations agreeing that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was the right body to arbitrate this matter and its final decision will be respected by both organisations.”

Semenya, a three-time 800m world champion, has hyperandrogenism, a medical condition characterised by excessive levels of male sex hormones such as testosterone.

Athletics’ world governing body is seeking to introduce the “IAAF Eligibility Regulations for Female Classification (Athletes with Differences of Sex Development)”, but it will not go unchallenged.

The regulations, announced in April, are designed by the IAAF to combat claims that women with higher levels of natural testosterone enjoy an unfair advantage in competition. Female athletes competing in events from 400m to the mile will be subject to the new rules.

The IAAF says female athletes with disorders of sex development (DSD) had an “enormous” advantage of five to six per cent (men have an advantage of 10 to 12 per cent over females). The statistics come from peer reviewed research and “observational data in the field”.