Athletics
SEMENYA IS “BIOLOGICALLY A MAN”, SAYS IAAF TREASURER
BY DAN PALMER.
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) treasurer José María Odriozola has weighed into the Caster Semenya row by reportedly describing the South African as “biologically a man”.
The Spaniard, professor of biochemistry, allegedly made the comments in an interview with Sport Magazine as he defended the world governing body regarding their controversial stance on the double Olympic 800 metres champion.
Semenya lost a landmark case against the IAAF at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in May, which means she will have to take medication to reduce her testosterone levels if she wants to continue running on the world stage.
The 28-year-old middle-distance athlete was attempting to block new rules on female participation brought in by the IAAF, who insist they are to create a level playing field.
Three-time world champion Semenya will miss next month’s IAAF World Championships in Qatar because of the verdict.
She initially received permission to compete pending an appeal but this was overturned by the Swiss Supreme Court last month.
The South African has argued that her testosterone levels occur naturally with her supporters including the World Medical Association and the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Odriozola, a former President of the Spanish Athletics Federation, said according to Sport Magazine: “She says that the IAAF goes against her, but the rules are for everyone.”
Odriozola, who is not standing for re-election to the IAAF Council next month, added that Semenya has an “enormous advantage”.
The IAAF’s new rules state that runners with high testosterone levels, who compete between 400m and the mile, must either take medication or compete against men.
Semenya is by far the most high-profile athlete who the rules will impact.
When making its verdict, CAS admitted the rule was “discriminatory” but it also said the policy was “necessary, reasonable and proportionate” to protect the fairness of women’s sport.
insidethegames has asked the IAAF and Athletics South Africa for a response.
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan is the winner as the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS has rejected the appeals filed by World Athletics and WADA.
The decision confirms the decision taken by the World Athletics disciplinary tribunal finding that Tobi Amusan did not commit any anti-doping rule violation.
Here is the full statement of CAS.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeals filed by
World Athletics (WA) and by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the decision issued on 17 August 2023 (the Challenged Decision) by the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal (WADT) in relation to the hurdler Oluwatobiloba (Tobi) Amusan (Nigeria).
Accordingly, the Challenged Decision in which the WADT considered that Tobi Amusan did not violate Rule 2.4 of the WA Anti-Doping Rules (WA ADR) and that no period of ineligibility should be imposed on the Athlete is confirmed.
The Athlete was initially charged with committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under Rule 2.4 WA ADR following three alleged Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.
In their respective appeal to CAS, WA and WADA had sought the imposition of a two-year period of ineligibility. The CAS Panel held a hearing on 19 January 2024. Having deliberated, the CAS Panel has issued its decision today dismissing both appeals. The CAS Panel unanimously acknowledged that the Athlete committed two filing failures but did not confirm the existence of a missed test, alleged by WA and WADA, which would have been the third Whereabouts Failure committed within a 12-month
period. Accordingly, the CAS Panel concluded that the Athlete did not commit an ADRV and that the Challenged Decision should be confirmed.
The reasoned award will be published by CAS unless the parties request confidentiality.
Nigeria’s Paris 2024 medal hopeful, Tobi Amusan has been cleared as the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has dismissed the appeal filed by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the World Athletics.
She is therefore cleared to feature at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Amusan is the 100m hurdles world record holder.
The athlete was charged in July last year with missing three anti-doping tests in 12 months but was cleared of the offence by the Disciplinary Tribunal of the sport’s governing body, World Athletics.
The Integrity Unit of the World Athletics appealed the clearance which has now been dismissed by CAS, the final arbiter in the case.
CAS in its statement remarked that its panel “unanimously acknowledged that the athlete committed two filing failures but did not confirm the existence of a missed test, alleged by WA and WADA, which would have been the third Whereabouts Failure committed within 12 months.”
Amusan set the world record of 12.12 seconds in the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July 2022 and went on to win the title.
She finished sixth in the world championships in Budapest last year.
World Athletics’ anti-doping rules say any athlete failing to declare their whereabouts for a doping test on three occasions over 12 months is ineligible to compete for two years.
An elated Nigeria’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan has thanked God for her success in an appeal filled against her by the Athletics Integrity Unit of the World Athletics.
Had the appeal been upheld, ,Amusan would have has to miss the Paris 2024 Olymoics.
“It’s ALL GOD” Amusan said in an Instagram post alongside the court’s announcement.
Amusan, who broke the world record during her semi-final race at the 2022 world championships, is a hot favourite in her signature event at the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26.
World Athletics and WADA did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
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