CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed South African middle distance runner Caster Semenya’s appeal against rules limiting testosterone levels in female athletes.
“I know the IAAF rules were specifically aimed at me. For ten years the IAAF tried to slow me down, but it actually made me stronger. The CAS decision will not stop me. I will do my best again and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”
“The IAAF … is pleased that these provisions have been found to be necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aim of the IAAF to protect the integrity of women’s athletics in restricted competition.”
“The IAAF is at a crossroads. With the CAS ruling in its favor, it can simply breathe a sigh of relief and push forward with an approach to regulation that has left the sport in limbo and… has been proven scientifically and morally.” unjustifiably.
“This will prove to be the losing side of history: in recent years, the sport has been under increasing pressure to change, and this decision will certainly not be reversed.”
“I applaud today’s CAS decision to ensure that the governing body can continue to protect the women’s category. It was never about individuals, it was about the principles of fair play and a level playing field for women and girls.”
”I understand how difficult this decision was for the CAS and respect their decision that women’s sport needs rules to protect it.”
Roger Pilke, Jr., director of the Center for Sports Management at the University of Colorado, was also a witness at the CAS hearing in support of Semenya.
”We believe that the IAAF study should be withdrawn and the rules suspended until more thorough research can be done by independent researchers. The scientific issues we identified were not challenged by the IAAF – in fact, many of the issues we identified were recognized by the IAAF. The IAAF .
“The fact that a majority of the members of the CAS panel voted in favor of these provisions suggests that these issues of scientific validity were not considered critical in its decisions.
“Semenya’s sentence was extremely unfair to her and wrong in principle. She did nothing wrong and it’s terrible that now she has to take drugs for competition. General rules should not be made based on exceptional circumstances, trans athletes.” remains unresolved.”
“The CAS decision today is deeply disappointing, discriminatory and contrary to their 2015 decision. We will continue to advocate for a change in this discriminatory policy.”
”Of course, we are disappointed with the verdict. We will review the verdict, consider it and determine the next steps. As the South African government, we have always believed that these rulings violate the human rights and dignity of Caster Semenya and other athletes.”
“Without this ruling, we would be in a situation where women with normal testosterone would be at a disadvantage compared to women with higher testosterone levels.
“Overall, this decision means that all female athletes can compete on an equal footing.”
“Reducing testosterone levels in XY DSD athletes before competition is a prudent and pragmatic approach to fair competition. The drugs used are effective, do not cause complications, and the effects are reversible.”
“I spent eight years researching this, testosterone and bodybuilding, and I don’t see the rationale for such a decision. Bravo Caster and everyone for standing up to discriminatory rules. There is still a lot of work to be done.”
“It is right that the sport is trying to level the playing field for women and not against this athlete who is going to appeal their decision.”
”The Court of Arbitration for Sport ignored international human rights law and insisted on discrimination when it dismissed Caster Semenya’s case today.”
“Banning what has or does not have a genetic advantage is, in my opinion, a slippery slope. After all, people are not told that they are too tall to play basketball or that they have too big hands to throw a ball. hammer.
“The reason people become better athletes is because they train really hard and they have a genetic advantage. Therefore, to say that this is especially important, while others are not, is a little strange for me. ”
“Common sense wins. A very emotional topic – but thank God that he saved the future of HONEST women’s sports.
LETLOGONOLO MOCGORAOANE, Gender Justice Policy Development and Advocacy Researcher, South Africa
“Essentially it’s reverse doping, which is disgusting. The decision will have far-reaching implications not only for Caster Semenya, but for transgender and intersex people as well. But the IAAF rules are used to the fact that I’m not surprised that it targets women from the global south.” “.
Reporting by Nick Sayed; additional reporting by Kate Kelland and Gene Cherry; Editing by Christian Rednedge and Janet Lawrence
Post time: Mar-23-2023