The Malta Independent 19 April 2024, Friday
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IAAF argued in court that Semenya is 'biologically male'

Associated Press Tuesday, 18 June 2019, 17:48 Last update: about 6 years ago

The governing body of track argued in court that Caster Semenya is "biologically male" and that is the reason she should reduce her natural testosterone to be allowed to compete in female competitions.

The IAAF's stance on Semenya and other female athletes affected by its testosterone regulations was revealed in a 163-page decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that was released publicly for the first time on Tuesday.

In the redacted court records, the IAAF referred to the two-time Olympic champion from South Africa as one of a number of "biologically male athletes with female gender identities."

At court, Semenya responded to the assertion by saying that being described as biologically male "hurts more than I can put in words."

The IAAF won the case at CAS, allowing it to implement testosterone limits for Semenya and other female athletes who it says were born with typical male chromosome patterns.

Semenya has since appealed the verdict to Switzerland's supreme court and won an interim ruling to temporarily suspend the hormone regulations.

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