Semenya against IAAF: How much Testostoron may be?

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With voltage, the judgment of the International sport court of justice, on the complaint of the running Star Caster Semenya is expected. The South African has filed a complaint against the world governing body IAAF. We answer the most important questions.

The International court of arbitration for sport (CAS) will decide soon on the claim of the two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya against the controversial new “testosterone-rule” of the world athletics Association IAAF. You and other women affected by the rules should start “without discrimination in the women’s class,” let Semenya at the beginning of the week to the beginning of the CAS hearings. The new rules of the IAAF, Semenyas lawyers, would strengthen “anyone”, they asked rather, “are liable to further error, and hurtful attempt to monitor the female gender”.

What Caster Semenya so far in the Sport?

The 28-year-old South African dominated since 2009, the 800-Meter run for the women. At the time, she won at the IAAF world Championships in Berlin Gold. She had two more world champion titles: in 2011, in Daegu in South Korea and in 2017 in London. At the Olympic Games in London 2012 and in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 Semenya was an Olympic champion in the 800 meters. In your home you heroine enjoys due to its success the Status of a People. The South African government complained repeatedly that the Topsportlerin will international being discriminated against.

Caster Semenya after her Olympic victory in the 800 meters at the Olympic Games in 2016

Semenya is a Hyper-androgenic Athlete, this means your body is producing a women’s unusually high amount of testosterone. Already after her first major international title, the world Cup Triumph in Berlin, was ordered by the IAAF of a Test, to check whether the South African woman was really a woman. Semenyas masculine appearance and deep voice, had caused a discussion. The South African was the first to be locked from the middle of 2010, she was allowed to start again.

What are the new testosterone rule of the IAAF, against Semenya in front of the CAS action requested?

The IAAF wants to introduce for runners who compete in international competitions over distances between 400 Meter and a mile, a testosterone-limit of five Nanomol per Liter (nmol/l). Women, which have a higher value to these pressures due to the intake of hormone preparations such as contraceptive pills under the approved limit for a period of at least six months prior to the Competition.

How does the IAAF the limit?

The world athletics Association points out that very high amounts could increase in naturally produced testosterone in athletes, both muscle mass as well as muscle strength, as well as the production of red blood cells, “and thus their athletic performance”. According to one of the IAAF-commissioned study of testosterone is in women, usually between 0.12 and 1.79, and in men between 7.7 and 29.4 nmol/l, A value between 5 and 10 nmol/l, the IAAF, get a woman a clear competitive advantage: 4.4% more muscle mass, between 12 and 26 percent more muscle strength, and 7.8 per cent more red blood cells. The period of six months for the hormone therapy had been chosen, in order to ensure that the hemoglobin value decreased prior to the Competition to a normal level. The lifespan of a red blood cell is about 120 days, so around four months.

Semenya prior to the hearing of the International sport court of justice

Why should apply the new rule only for running competitions between 400 meters and a mile, and not for other track and field disciplines?

The IAAF called on scientific evidence, according to which the main competitive advantage of the athletes spent on the inside with a very high Testosterone level on the medium-haul routes. There it is especially on the mixture of speed, strength, and endurance, according to the Association.

There used to be similar rules?

Already in the middle of the last century, the IAAF tried to ensure that women have started competitions for women. So the Association in 1946 demanded that all the female athletes presented before the Start of a medical certificate confirming your gender. Later, athletes medical examinations had to pull directly in front of the race. In 1967, the IAAF introduced a saliva swab, to test the composition of the chromosomes. In 1992, the controversial procedure has been abolished, there was a DNA analysis. When this proved to be error-prone, refrained from it since 1999, temporarily, to check the gender.

Dutee Chand obtained the suspension of the IAAF rule

The case Semanya made in 2009 for a new edition. The IAAF introduced in 2011, a testosterone threshold of 10 nmol/l, associated with the request to lower it with medication, to be allowed to go to the Start. Indian Sprinter Dutee Chand rode until 2015 before the International court of arbitration for sport, the temporary repeal of the rule. The CAS requested the IAAF, within two years, new scientific data to present.

How many athletes would be affected by the new IAAF rule?

“We have found out in more than ten years of research, that among 1000 top athletes inside, 7.1 percent of women had an increased level of testosterone, most of which are in areas for which the new rule will be applied,” said Stephane Bermon, one of the authors of the IAAF study and even in the world Association. Caster Semanya would have to re-swallow drugs, as at the time of the old IAAF rule. At that time, the South African was for the most part been well behind their personal best. “If the new rule comes through, I predict that Semanya over 800 meters will be five to seven seconds slower,” wrote the renowned British sports scientist Ross Tucker.

How is it after the hearing of the CAS?

The ruling of the sports Tribunal in Lausanne, is expected by the end of March. Semanya should fail with its suit, would come the rule soon after that. Originally, the requirement should already 1. November 2018 to apply. Because of the impending CAS ruling in the IAAF had postponed the appointment. The world Association has announced to accept the verdict no matter how it turns out. “We cannot and we will not have to run constantly to the CAS,” said IAAF President Sebastian Coe, the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.