Caster Semenya to challenge IAAF ruling

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Olympic champion Caster Semenya is challenging the IAAF’s most recent ruling on testosterone levels in female athletes. In April, the IAAF introduced a rule regarding female eligibility that will take effect November 1 of this year, and apply to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

RELATED: IAAF announces new testosterone rule for female runners

Its focus is on female runners born with differences of sexual development (DSDs). The new maximum for testosterone is five nanomoles per litre, half what it was before the rule was dropped in 2015. It affects females racing in the 400m, 800m, hurdles, mile, 1,500m, and combined events over the same distances.

The IAAF’s 2011 ruling on hyperandrogenism, which lowered the upper limit of female testosterone levels, was overturned in 2015 as it was deemed discriminatory.

Semenya will bring her case today before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, to challenge the IAAF’s most recently ruling regarding the Eligibility Regulations for Female Classification. 

RELATED: Semenya’s quietly defiant tweets in keeping with past responses to controversy

Semenya reportedly feels that the new rule is once again, discriminatory. If the IAAF ruling is sustained, Semenya will have two options: take daily medication to comply with the ruling, move up in distance to the 5,000m or compete in the men’s competition. 

No matter the situation we stay above. ?

— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) June 3, 2018

Semenya has remained very quiet throughout the process with the exception of some communication via Twitter. The 800m runner tweeted on June 3rd that, “No matter the situation we stay above.” 

Semenya’s lawyers reportedly have said, “This challenge is being filed to ensure, safeguard and protect the rights of all women”.