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SPORTS Friday 15 February 2019
Semenya appeal case mixes science, sports, gender politics

By GRAHAM DUNBAR sprinter Dutee Chand, who
AP Sports Writer won a CAS verdict in 2015
GENEVA (AP) — Caster . Three judges, including
Semenya's running future Canadian professor Rich-
will be decided by three ard McLaren, said the IAAF
judges starting next week did not prove hyperandro-
in a landmark case that genic women gained a
will challenge science and significant advantage, and
gender politics. invited the governing body
The two-time Olympic to submit new evidence.
800-meter champion from While the rules were sus-
South Africa is looking to pended, Semenya won a
overturn eligibility rules for second Olympic title at the
hyperandrogenic athletes 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games
proposed by track and in 1:55.28 — more than four
field's governing body. The seconds faster than her
IAAF wants to require wom- best times in the previous
en with naturally elevated two seasons.
testosterone to lower their The IAAF published its re-
levels by medication be- search in a British medical
fore being allowed to com- journal in 2017, using data
pete in world-class races from athletes at the 2011
from 400 meters to one and 2013 world champion-
mile. In this file photo dated Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, Caster Semenya of South Africa crosses the finish line ships.
to win the women's 800 meters for Africa, at the IAAF track and field Continental Cup in Ostrava,
"She looks forward to re- Czech Republic. It claimed 7.1 in every 1,000
sponding to the IAAF at the Associated Press elite female athletes had
upcoming hearing," Seme- elevated testosterone lev-
nya's lawyers in Johannes- Differences of Sexual De- experts and women's sport become the third fastest els, 140 times higher than
burg, Norton Rose Fulbright, velopment (DSD) get a sig- activists , led by Billie Jean woman this century. Hours the general population.
said Thursday in a state- nificant performance ad- King, who see potential before the race in Berlin, This helped give a sup-
ment. "She asks that she vantage from male levels abuse and discrimination in it emerged that the IAAF posed performance ad-
be respected and treated of testosterone. the track federation's pro- had asked for Semenya to vantage of 1.8 to 4.5 per-
as any other athlete: Her The IAAF insists no woman is posal. undergo a gender verifica- cent in events from 400 to
genetic gift should be cel- being reclassified as male, As for the science, lawyers tion test. 1,500 meters.
ebrated, not discriminated and it "makes no judgment for Semenya will call expert The IAAF introduced Hyper- The proposed solution was
against." about gender or sexual witnesses from the United androgenism Regulations in requiring women to medi-
A scheduled five-day ap- identity." States and her native South 2011 to replace the gender cate — likely with contra-
peal case starting Monday "(The rules) are about lev- Africa to discredit the IAAF's policy with guidance limit- ceptive pills — to bring
is among the longest ever elling the playing field to research. The evidence ing women to serum levels testosterone levels below
heard by the Court of Ar- ensure fair and meaningful could help deliver a sec- of natural testosterone be- 5 nmol/L for at least six
bitration for Sport. The ver- competition in the sport of ond loss for the IAAF at CAS low 10 nanomoles per liter months before competing
dict, expected next month, athletics where success is on an issue that has flared of blood. Semenya then at elite events such as the
could also be among the determined by talent, ded- for a decade and cast a finished second in the 800 Olympics, world champion-
most ethically controversial ication and hard work rath- shadow on Semenya's ca- at the 2012 London Olym- ships or Diamond League
in the sports court's 35-year er than other contributing reer. pics in 1:57.23, but was later meets.
history. factors," IAAF president Se- In 2009, the 18-year-old upgraded to gold after the "No athlete will be forced to
The panel of three CAS bastian Coe said last year. prodigy won her first world original winner was disqual- undergo surgery," said IAAF
judges could decide based Still, Semenya's case has championship title in the ified for doping. medical adviser Stephane
only on science: Can the been championed by Unit- 800 meters, finishing in 1 The IAAF's regulations were Bermon, who co-wrote the
IAAF prove women with ed Nations human rights minute, 55.45 seconds to later blocked by Indian research.q

MLS extends commissioner

Garber's contract through 2023

NEW YORK (AP) — Major vice president of its inter- construction in the U.S. and
League Soccer Commis- national division when he Canada. MLS teams have
sioner Don Garber's con- was recruited for MLS by 20 soccer specific stadi-
tract has been extended Robert Kraft and Lamar ums, up from just the one
by league owners for five Hunt, owners of teams in in Columbus, Ohio, when
years through 2023. both leagues. Garber was Garber joined MLS, and
Garber's previous contract inducted into the U.S. Na- Minnesota's Allianz Field
expired at the end of 2018. tional Soccer Hall of Fame opens this year.
He was hired in August last year. Additional stadiums are
1999 to succeed Doug Under his leadership, MLS planned for Austin, Texas;
Logan, MLS's first commis- has more than doubled in Cincinnati; Columbus; Mi- In this Jan. 15, 2019, file photo, Major League Soccer Commis-
sioner. size from 12 to 27 teams ami; and Nashville, Tennes- sioner Don Garber announces that Austin will be an expansion
Garber, 61, spent 15 years and helped develop a see. Garber's new deal was franchise for the 2021 season, in Austin, Texas.
with the NFL. He was senior boom in soccer stadium announced Thursday.q Associated Press