CAS dismisses Semenya appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Caster Semenya’s appeal over IAAF testosterone regulations.

The regulations will force athletes with naturally-occurring high levels of testosterone to take medication to lower them, if they want to continue competing.

Semenya, a two-time Olympic 800m champion, and Athletics South Africa had claimed the rules were unlawful, but their appeal has been rejected by the CAS.

The 28-year-old has one of the various genetic conditions collectively known as differences or disorders of sex development (DSD).

CAS said in a statement on Wednesday: “By majority, the CAS panel has dismissed the requests for arbitration, considering that the claimants were unable to establish that the DSD regulations were ‘invalid’.

“The panel found that the DSD regulations are discriminatory, but the majority of the panel found that, on the basis of the evidence submitted by the parties, such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF’s aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics in the restricted events.”

Despite finding in favour of the IAAF, the CAS said its panel “expressed some serious concerns as to the future practical application” of the DSD regulations.