Caster Semenya to Race Final 800 Meters Before IAAF Testosterone Policy Begins – runnersworld.com

The track community was rocked on Wednesday, May 2, when the Court of Arbitration of Sport announced its rejection of the appeal made by Caster Semenya against the IAAF’s proposed regulations on high testosterone in female athletes. Just two days later, Semenya is racing what might be her final 800 meters—unless she decides to take hormone suppressants in accordance to the ruling—at the Diamond League Invitational in Doha, Qatar.

According to the IAAF’s new policy, which goes into effect on May 8, women who are hyperandrogenic (who have high testosterone levels) must medically suppress their testosterone to below 5 nmols/liter—and maintain those levels for six months before competition—in order to race.

The IAAF policy directly affects Semenya, a 28-year-old South African middle distance runner who has won two Olympic gold medals in the 800 meters, as well as several world championship titles. Since she won her first world title in 2009, Semenya—who appears to have DSD, a disorder of sex development that might produce atypically high (for a woman) levels of natural testosterone—has been scrutinized by the federation, which argues that hyperandrogenic athletes have an unfair advantage over the women’s field.

While Semenya has received the most media attention in the wake of the ruling, other athletes are similarly affected by the new policy. In the 800 tomorrow, Semenya will be competing against Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, who finished runner-up to Semenya in the 2016 Rio Olympics and recently opened up about being hyperandrogenic. Margaret Wambui of Kenya, who won bronze in the 800 in Rio, is also rumored to be hyperandrogenic, according to Canadian Running Magazine.

After the CAS ruling was announced, Semenya said in a statement, “The decision of the CAS will not hold me back. I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”

Though Semenya’s legal team is planning to appeal the CAS decision, as of May 8, the athlete will be required to take hormone suppressants in order to continue competing in the 800. Semenya holds an 800-meter PR of 1:54.25, which makes her the fourth-fastest woman in history in the event.

If the IAAF policy holds, Semenya and other hyperandrogenic athletes will presumably have to miss the world championships—where she won the 800 meters last year—this September, since the meet falls before the six-month medication period is finished.

To watch Semenya compete in Doha on Friday, May 3, you can tune into the NBC’s Olympic Channel from 12 to 2 p.m. ET, or stream it on NBC Sports Gold (requires a $75 year-long subscription) starting at 11 a.m. ET.