Agency :
Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya lost her long legal battle against track and field’s rules that limit female runners’ naturally high testosterone levels.
Switzerland’s Supreme Court said its judges dismissed Semenya’s appeal against a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling last year that upheld the rules drafted by track’s governing body affecting female runners with differences of sex development.
The 71-page ruling means Semenya cannot defend her Olympic 800-meter title at the Tokyo Games next year – or compete at any top meets in distances from 400 meters to the mile – unless she agrees to lower her testosterone level through medication or surgery.
The 29-year-old South African repeatedly said she will not do that reiterated her stance in a statement through her lawyers Tuesday. “I am very disappointed by this ruling, but refuse to let World Athletics drug me or stop me from being who I am,” she said.
“Excluding female athletes or endangering our health solely because of our natural abilities puts World Athletics on the wrong side of history.” The Swiss Federal Tribunal said Semenya’s appeal “essentially alleges a violation of the prohibition of discrimination.”
Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya lost her long legal battle against track and field’s rules that limit female runners’ naturally high testosterone levels.
Switzerland’s Supreme Court said its judges dismissed Semenya’s appeal against a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling last year that upheld the rules drafted by track’s governing body affecting female runners with differences of sex development.
The 71-page ruling means Semenya cannot defend her Olympic 800-meter title at the Tokyo Games next year – or compete at any top meets in distances from 400 meters to the mile – unless she agrees to lower her testosterone level through medication or surgery.
The 29-year-old South African repeatedly said she will not do that reiterated her stance in a statement through her lawyers Tuesday. “I am very disappointed by this ruling, but refuse to let World Athletics drug me or stop me from being who I am,” she said.
“Excluding female athletes or endangering our health solely because of our natural abilities puts World Athletics on the wrong side of history.” The Swiss Federal Tribunal said Semenya’s appeal “essentially alleges a violation of the prohibition of discrimination.”
