Semenya Out Of Athletics World Championships After Swiss Court Re-Imposes IAAF Regulations

Two-time Olympic champion in the 800 metres, Caster Semenya, will not be eligible to run her signature event at this year’s world track and field championships after the latest legal ruling by a Swiss court re-imposed the IAAF regulations on high testosterone levels.

South Africa’s Semenya, who has been locked in an ongoing, charged legal dispute case about restrictions placed on intersex athletes being able to compete in certain women’s events, sustained the setback when the Swiss Supreme Court gave the latest ruling on Tuesday.

The judgment reversed a decision it made in June and temporarily reimposed the hormone restrictions put in place by track and field’s world governing body in women’s events from 400 meters to the mile.

“I am very disappointed to be kept from defending my hard-earned title. This will not deter me from continuing my fight for the human rights of all of the female athletes concerned”, Semenya said in a statement about her ineligibility to run the 800 at world track championships, to be held from Sept. 28-Oct. 6 in Doha, Qatar.

However, her attorney said she planned to appeal the ruling in her determination to overturn eligibility limitations placed on athletes in the affected women’s events who have disorders of sexual development and possess X and Y chromosomes, the normal male pattern.