IAAF want to curb testosterone of DSD athletes

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is to rule this week on Caster Semenya's appeal against proposals to curb testosterone levels in DSD (differences of sexual development) athletes.

Athletics' world governing body the IAAF want to limit the testosterone levels on athletes like Semenya. The South African is hyperandrogenic, which means the two-time Olympic 800m gold medalist produces naturally higher-than-average levels of testosterone.

CAS are due to reveal their decision at noon on Wednesday.

A TEAM 💣 pic.twitter.com/f49YM7dI4h

— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) April 28, 2019

An IAAF study claims that DSD athletes hold such an advantage over their competitors that they should be required to take testosterone suppressants for six-months before they are allowed compete over distances between 400m and 1500m

Earlier this year, Semenya - backed by the South African athletics body, ASA - took her appeal against the proposals to CAS. The hearing lasted five-days in Lausanne.

In a statement, Semenya's legal representatives wrote: “Ms Semenya believes that she and other women affected by the regulations should be permitted to compete in the female category without discrimination, and celebrated for their natural talents as are all other athletes with genetic variations.

“The IAAF’s regulations do not empower anyone. Rather, they represent yet another flawed and hurtful attempt to police the sex of female athletes. Ms Semenya’s courage and perseverance in her fight to run free is an inspiration to young athletes in her home country of South Africa and around the globe.”