Semenya out of World Championships after Swiss court reverses reprieve

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya
will not defend her 800-metres title at the World Championships in
September after the Swiss Federal Tribunal reversed a ruling that
temporarily lifted the IAAF’s testosterone regulations imposed on
her, a spokesman for the athlete said on Tuesday.

Semenya is appealing the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS)
ruling that supported regulations introduced by the sport’s
governing body, the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF).

These say that XY chromosome athletes with differences in sexual
development (DSDs) can race in distances from 400m to a mile only
if they take medication to reach a reduced testosterone level.

“I am very disappointed to be kept from defending my hard-earned
title, but this will not deter me from continuing my fight for the
human rights of all of the female athletes concerned,” Semenya said
in a statement from her representative.

CAS is based in Lausanne and comes under the jurisdiction of
Switzerland’s highest court.

The IAAF said they would only comment once they have read the
full reasoning behind the judgement.

“We understand the Swiss Federal Tribunal will be publishing its
full decision on this order tomorrow (Wednesday) and the IAAF will
comment once the tribunal makes its reasoning public,” a
spokeswoman told Reuters.

The South African had been given a reprieve last month by the
Swiss court, which temporarily lifted the IAAF’s regulations from
her until the final outcome of her appeal.

“The Supreme Court emphasised the strict requirements and high
thresholds for the interim suspension of CAS awards and found that
these were not fulfilled,” the statement said.

Dorothee Schramm, the lawyer leading Semenya’s appeal, says they
are still hopeful of a permanent lifting of the regulations.

“The judge’s procedural decision has no impact on the appeal
itself. We will continue to pursue Caster’s appeal and fight for
her fundamental human rights. A race is always decided at the
finish line,” Schramm said.

Semenya ran the quickest ever 800-metres on United States soil
at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting on June 30 in a
time of 1:55.70.

She told reporters afterwards that she would not compete at the
World Championships in Doha if barred from running her preferred
distance, having earlier hinted she could enter longer races in the
future that are not covered by the regulations.

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