Caster Semenya has lost a landmark case against athletics’ governing body meaning it will be allowed to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) rejected the South African’s challenge against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF’s) new rules.
But Cas said it had “serious concerns as to the future practical application” of the new rules.
Semenya, 28, had said the regulations were “unfair” and that she wanted to “run naturally, the way I was born.”
Now she – and other athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) – must either take medication in order to compete in events from 400m to the mile, or change events.
Semenya won gold in the women’s 800 metres at the World Championships in 2009, 2011 and London 2017.
She took bronze in the 1,500m in London as well.
Her 2011 World and 2012 Olympic 800m golds were awarded to her after the winner on the day, Russia’s Mariya Savinova-Farnosova, was stripped of her title due to doping offences.
In April 2016, Semenya was the first person to win all three of the 400m, 800m, and 1500m titles at the South African National Championships.
She set world-leading records of 50.74 and 1:58.45 in the first two events, and a 4:10.93 in the 1500m.
She also won gold in the 800m at the Rio Olympics.
And in April 2018 she stormed to victory in the women’s 800m and 1,500m at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Hyperandrogenism is when the female body has high levels of male sex hormones such as testosterone.
The conditions tend to include acne, seborrhea (inflamed skin), hair loss on the scalp, increased body hair, masculine appearance, menstrual irregularities, a deeper voice and increased sex drive. (BBC)
