Semenya loses appeal in Swiss court over restriction of testosterone levels in female runners

Jamaica News: Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya of South Africa has lost an appeal to Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court against the restriction of testosterone in female athletes, it was announced Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

Semenya is not allowed to compete in events between 400m and a mile without taking testosterone-reducing drugs, following a 2019 rule change by governing body World Athletics, which the 29-year-old has chosen not to do.

Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court dismissed Semenya’s appeal, upholding the ruling made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last year regarding female runners, like Semenya, with differences of sexual development (DSD).

Semenya, who won 800m gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, in March said she would target the 200m, an event she is permitted to compete in without taking medication to reduce her naturally elevated testosterone levels.

She was competing in the 200m in her native South Africa earlier this year with an eye on qualifying for the Olympics before the postponement of this year’s Games was announced.

A statement from the governing body said: “World Athletics fully respects each individual’s personal dignity and supports the social movement to have people accepted in society based on their chosen legal sex and/or gender identity.