Caster barred from title defence

CASTER Semenya will not be able to defend her world 800m title in Doha this year after the temporary suspension of the IAAF’s controversial female eligibility rules was overturned, her lawyers announced yesterday.

“A single judge of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court reversed prior rulings that had temporarily suspended the IAAF regulations, pending the outcome of Caster’s appeal against the CAS award,” Semenya’s lawyers said in a statement.

“In this latest decision, the Supreme Court emphasised the strict requirements and high thresholds for the interim suspension of the (Court of Arbitration for Sport) awards and found that these were not fulfilled.”

Semenya received her first setback earlier this year after the CAS ruled in favour of the IAAF. The regulations ban athletes with Differences in Sexual Development from competing in events from the 400m to the mile if they refuse to lower their testosterone to a certain level.

The rules were formally implemented on May 8 before the Swiss court’s super-provisional suspension, which allowed Semenya to once again line up in her favoured 800m event pending her appeal.

The latest ruling, according to her lawyers, will prevent Semenya from defending her title at the world championships in September.

“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.

Dorothee Schramm, who is the lawyer leading her appeal before the Swiss court said the judge’s “procedural decision” would not have an impact on Semenya’s appeal.

“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.