Heavenly talented athlete, Caster Semenya, has been declared free to partake in the 800m with no need to take any medication. The IAAF was ordered by the Swiss federal court to let go of the testosterone regulations design for athletes who have a different sexual development immediately.
This news came as a surprise and it implies that the Olympic Champion, as well as other DSD athletes, have been given clearance to partake in running distances without having to use any form of medication. This grace will extend to at least the end of June. The IAAF has been told by the court to suspend any regulatory implementations concerning Caster with immediate effect. it was also given the 25th of June to issue a response concerning the suspension.
Greg Nott who happens to be the attorney of Somalia applauded the decision as one that is morally uplifting for the athlete. He revealed that it was his team which made the request for a suspension after appealing the court of arbitration for sports’ decision last week. This news is actually a positive one for Semenya.
She went ahead to issue a statement where she was full of thanks over the decision of the judges. She hopes for a time when she will be declared free to run. The decision also appeals favorably to Dr. Dorothee Schramm who happens to be the Swiss council of the athlete. Dr. Schramm recognizes the importance of the case and how it will impact on fundamental human rights images of female athletes.
The decision of the Swiss Court happens to be the latest in the ongoing case involving Caster Semenya as well as the IAAF. The case has to do with a policy that stipulates that DSD athletes will be required to lower their testosterone levels to a certain point for up to six months or more for them to be qualified to partake in international competitions for 400m to 1-mile race distances.
Just a few weeks ago, the policy was declared by the Cas to be a discrimination against DSD athletes. These are athletes that are mostly birthed with testes. But the ruling went in IAAFs support where the argument concerning testosterone levels and how it helped some female athletes have an advantage over fellow competitors in terms of size, energy, as well as power once they hit puberty was declared valid. Cas backed up its ruling by stating how necessary, reasonable, as well as proportionate the policy was in order to continue to promote fair competition when it comes to female sport.
This decision had immediate results. An 800m race for women was clinched in Stockholm by Ajee Wilson who is not a DSD athlete. Since 2015, this happens to be the first time that a non-DSD athlete emerged the winner. In the previous 22 races, Semenya as well as Francine Niyonsaba who hails from Burundi won all.
