Caster Semenya to Compete Medication-Free as Swiss Court suspends IAAF’s Testosterone Rules

An interim ruling by Switzerland’s Supreme Court has ordered the IAAF to suspend its new regulation which requires female athletes with DSD (difference in sexual development) to reduce their testosterone levels for at least six months if they want to compete in some races – events between 400m and 1.6km – in the women category.

Reigning Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya of South Africa, had approached the court, appealing the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sports which upheld IAAF’s rules in its ruling last month.

CBC reports that the Swiss court declared that the new rules should be suspended until the IAAF responds with arguments to the supreme court.

“I am thankful to the Swiss judges for this decision. I hope that following my appeal I will once again be able to run free,” Semenya said of the interim ruling.

Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Margaret Wambui of Kenya, who came 2nd and 3rd in the 800m race at the 2016 Olympics where Semenya came first, have said they are affected by the rules.

Prescribing medical treatments solely for sports eligibility reasons has been labelled as unethical by an array of experts, including the World Medical Association, which represents doctors across the world, according to CBC.

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