International Athletics Federation Tests The “discriminatory” Rule

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A total controversy has unleashed in the world of sports the decision made by the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) and which forces multiple African world champion Caster Semenya to take medication to reduce her testosterone levels if she wants to continue competing.

This new regulation seems to have raised even more eyebrows after the Sports Arbitration Court (TAS), the highest body for sports regulation, endorsed the IAAF decision, appealing that despite finding that this type of regulation discriminatory”says they are“necessary, reasonable and proportionate”.

The decision affects not only the South African, who has been a three-time world champion and twice an Olympic champion, but also all those women whose body naturally exceeds testosterone levels considered "standard" for a woman.

As revealed by a report in the newspaper El País, part of the controversy created by this new IAAF regulation is that the story seems to be very different for men, since those athletes who exceed normal testosterone levels only have to submit. to some exams to receive a special permit and thus be able to compete.

The African athletics star limited himself to commenting on his social networks with a short but telling message. "Sometimes it is better to react not reacting," he shared through his Twitter account.

Following the TAS endorsement of this new regulation, the IAAF announced that the rule will take effect on May 8 and warned affected athletes who want to participate in the next Doha World Athletics Championships in September to start treatment to reduce Testosterone levels as soon as possible, since they will be asked to deliver blood samples in the following days to verify that they have the permitted levels of said hormone and which should be maintained at the same percentage for the next six months.

Semenya was one of the multiple female stars who participated in a recent campaign by the Nike firm called Dream Crazier starring Serena Williams and in which the gender discrimination that exists in the sport is criticized. "When we are too good at something, it is because there is something wrong with us," says the American tennis player when images of the African athlete winning a competition with a great advantage over her rivals are shown.