800-Meter Olympic champion Caster Semenya suffers in the fight against testosterone-Limits for middle-distance runners with intersex plants in front of the International court of arbitration for sport CAS a defeat against the IAAF.
The International sports court CAS in Lausanne has ruled in the case of a dispute between the 800-metre runner Caster Semenya and the athletics world governing body IAAF for the benefit of the Association. Semenya, which has due to Hyperandrogenaemia a higher Testosterone levels than other women, had resisted the IAAF due to an Association-commissioned study, the testosterone-limit in the blood for means of runners to five Nanomol per Liter (nmol/l) was determined. The performance advantage of the athlete with a naturally elevated Testosterone level according to the IAAF, up to 4.5 percent. The IAAF stressed again and again, you go to the “fair competition” between women.
Semenya has more testosterone in the blood as the limit, according to the study, given the important competitive advantages. The South African now has to take so medications that lower your Testosterone, if you would like to continue to participate in competitions. Semenya had to lower your Testosterone level in your career already temporarily artificially and then significantly slower times.
The Necessary Discrimination
Specifically, runners who want to be able to start at international competitions over distances of 400 meters to a mile have to lower your Testosterone “within one continuous period” of at least six months to below 5 nmol/l. This is also due to the intake of hormonal contraceptives. The three-member CAS-the court announced that the IAAF rule was discriminatory, but the majority of the panel found, on the basis of all of the parties have submitted documents “as a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means”. So the aim of the world Federation could be achieved to maintain the integrity of female athletes in the competitions in an upright position.
Long History
The 28-year-old Semenya dominated since her world title of 2009 and the 800-Meter run for the women. At the time, she won at the IAAF world Championships in Berlin Gold. There are two more world championship titles: 2011 in Daegu, in South Korea and in 2017 in London followed. At the Olympic Games in London 2012 and in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 Semenya was an Olympic champion over 800 meters. In your home it is because of their achievements, a people’s heroine. The South African government complained repeatedly that the Top Athlete international is discriminated against unlawfully.
Too muscular, too fast, too male? Caster Semenya is eyeing for years, of Association and competition a critical
Semenya, since 2009 as an 18-Year-old the world stage of athletics entered, confronted with accusations, and was not a real woman. After the world Cup, in Berlin, the IAAF ordered a Test to check this. 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.
Controversial Study
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. The Hyper androgenic Indian Sprinter Dutee Chand rode until 2015 before the CAS, the temporary repeal of the rule. The CAS requested the IAAF, within two years, new scientific data to present. This the Association did, however, the study garnered a lot of criticism from experts and athletes. It was inaccurate, erroneous, and in some Places incomprehensible. In addition, the independence of the results was questioned, as two of the main people responsible physicians are also in the service of the IAAF.
“Sometimes the best reaction is not to react, not at all,” tweeted Semenya. She now has the opportunity, within 30 days of the notice of appeal with the Swiss Federal court.