Caster Semenya vs IAAF: CAS says it will deliver verdict in landmark hyperandrogenism case by 26 March

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday that it will deliver by 26 March a decision in the controversial case pitting South African double Olympic champion Caster Semenya against the IAAF. Semenya is challenging proposals by the International Association of Athletics Federations that aim to restrict female athletes’ testosterone levels. [caption id=“attachment_6138621” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Caster Semenya (C) and her lawyer Gregory Nott (R) arrive for the CAS hearing. AFP[/caption] In a statement, the Lausanne-based court said the week-long hearing, which wrapped up on Friday, was “one of the most pivotal CAS cases” the tribunal has heard. The three-panel will announce their verdict “on or before March 26,” the court said. Read Firstpost's detailed explainer about how the Caster Semenya case against the IAAF on hyperandrogenism will have wider ramifications in athletics, here What's IAAF's rationale behind the controversial hyperandrogenism rules and why are some runners backing it   Why are athletics world body's critics claiming its hyperandrogenism rules are racist and unfair ? The IAAF is seeking to force so-called “hyperandrogenic” athletes or those with “differences of sexual development” (DSD) to seek treatment to lower their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount if they wish to continue competing as women. The athletics governing body has argued the moves are necessary to create a “level playing field” for other female athletes. But Semenya has a wide group of vocal backers, including South Africa’s government, who have accused the IAAF of seeking to perpetrate serious human rights violations on female athletes. South Africa’s sports minister Tokozile Xasa, who flew into Switzerland this week to back Semenya and her legal team, accused the IAAF of pursuing “the violation of women’s bodies.” Semenya is not the only athlete potentially affected by the new rules — the two athletes who finished behind her in the Rio Olympics 800m, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya’s Margaret Wambui, have also faced questions about their testosterone levels.