Court ruling knocks South Africa’s Caster Semenya out of the athletics world championship

It is official now that South Africa’s reining 800-meters world champion Caster Semenya will not defend her title in the forthcoming championship after a Swiss Federal Tribunal reversed the earlier on ruling that had temporarily lifted the testosterone imposed on her.

According to the athlete’s spokesman who spoke on yesterday, July 30, 2019, Caster Semenya is not taking the decision by the tribunal to lock her out of the World Championship slated for September this year and will file an appeal the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sports which supported the new regulations as introduced the world’s athletics governing body, IAAF.

The regulations require any XY chromosome with differences in sexual development (DSDs) to take part in 400m to a mile races only if they will take medications to reduce their testosterone levels.

Last month, Caster Semenya had been given a reprieve following the move by the Swiss Federal Tribunal to temporarily lift the International Association Athletics Federation (IAAF) from her until her appeal is heard and determined.

The South African athlete recorded a time of 1:55.70, the fast ever 800-meters time on the US soil, during the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in June 30.

After the race, she had told news reporters that she was looking forward to participate in the World Championship in Doha in any event that she is barred from running in her preferred distances. She had also indicated that she would switch to longer races in future where she would not be tied to the new regulations.