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A23
SPORTS Thursday 2 May 2019
SEMENYA Doha, Qatar. Semenya is her sport, we support all her
Continued from Page 17 expected to race in the 800 endeavors, and we are all
The IAAF argued that high, on Friday at a track meet behind her."
naturally occurring levels in Doha in what will be the The IAAF went into the case
of testosterone in athletes last world-class event be- arguing that female run-
like Semenya with "intersex" fore the new rules apply. ners with high testosterone
characteristics that don't Testosterone strengthens have an unfair advantage
conform to standard defi- muscle tone and bone in events from 400 meters
nitions of male and female mass. Because of that, it to the mile. However, the
give them an unfair com- is against the rules for ath- court suggested that the
petitive advantage, and it letes to use testosterone IAAF apply the rules only
decreed a maximum level supplements. Some wom- up to the 800 because the
for females. en have what is known as evidence was not clear
The court decision could hyperandrogenism, mean- that women with hyperan- In this Aug. 13, 2017, file photo, South Africa's Caster Semenya
open the way for simi- ing they have natural levels drogenism have an edge celebrates after winning the gold in the final of the Women's
lar rules in other women's that are unusually high. in the 1,500 meters and 800m during the World Athletics Championships in London.
sports where size, speed The IAAF rules require wom- above. Associated Press
and power make a differ- en to reduce their levels Under the rule, female ath-
ence, such as weightlifting, below 5 nanomoles per liter letes whose medical pro- tion of gender, based on She is not the only female
boxing, swimming, rugby, of blood. According to the files previously showed high hormone levels. athlete with high natural
field hockey and soccer. IAAF, most females, includ- testosterone will be subject "'Sporting sex' has been in- levels of testosterone but
Semenya — a 28-year-old ing elite athletes, have lev- to blood tests to prove they troduced," he said. "That is has become an unwilling
South African whose sculpt- els of testosterone circulat- have complied. where the decision does face of the issue. Indian
ed biceps and super-fast, ing naturally in their bodies An appeal to Switzerland's have far-reaching effects." sprinter Dutee Chand has
blow-away-the-competi- of 0.12 to 1.79 nanomoles Supreme Court is possible. John Brewer, a professor of been publicly identified as
tion times have led others per liter, while men have But judges rarely over- applied sports science at having high testosterone.
to question her accom- levels that can be dozens turn decisions of the world the Buckinghamshire New Two weeks ago, Olympic
plishments — declared she or even hundreds of times sports court. University in Britain who silver medalist and Seme-
will not be deterred. higher — typically 7.7 to Ross Tucker, a sports sci- supports the IAAF rule, said nya rival Francine Niyon-
"I know that the IAAF's reg- 29.4. ence consultant who testi- such regulations could end saba of Burundi confirmed
ulations have always tar- Semenya's level is consid- fied on Semenya's behalf up being adopted not just she has hyperandrogenism
geted me specifically," Se- ered private medical infor- and boasts of a Ph.D. in ex- by individual sports but by too. Referring to the rule,
menya said in a statement. mation and has not been ercise physiology, said the team sports such as rugby, Niyonsaba said: "For me,
"For a decade the IAAF has disclosed. scientific evidence is insuf- soccer and field hockey. it's about discrimination. It
tried to slow me down, but The South African Sports ficient to justify the rules. He Hormone-blocking drugs doesn't make sense. I didn't
this has actually made me Confederation and Olym- said that as a result of the can increase the risk of choose to be born like this.
stronger. The decision of pic Committee decried the court decision, other sports blood clots, thinning bones, What am I? I'm created by
the CAS will not hold me ruling, saying, "We maintain will essentially copy the fractures and heart prob- God."
back. I will once again rise that the rules are ill-thought IAAF's regulations. lems. At the 2016 Rio Olympics,
above and continue to in- and will be a source of dis- "For them, every fear and Semenya was legally rec- Semenya and Chand com-
spire young women and tress for the targeted fe- concern they had that they ognized at birth as female, peted, and other athletes
athletes in South Africa and male athletes." will be in the spotlight for but her speed and muscu- implied that other runners,
around the world." "This decision marks a mas- introducing similar rules will lar body have led others to including medalists in the
The two-time Olympic sive turning point as it now be gone," he said. "Other cast doubt on the integrity 800 meters, also had ele-
champion in the 800 me- redefines what a female sports will be super happy of her track achievements vated levels.
ters will have to lower her athlete in particular is," because the pressure's off throughout her career. As a "I think that we need sepa-
testosterone levels by such said Natalie du Toit, head to develop their own regu- teenager in 2009, she won rate events for them and for
means as birth control pills of the organization's ath- lations." her first world title in Berlin. us," Nataliia Lupu of Ukraine
or prostate cancer drugs letes commission, adding: He said the ruling moves Hours before the race, the said after running against
if she wants to defend her "Knowing Caster and the the world of sports closer to IAAF asked her to undergo Semenya. "You can see
world title in September in hard work she has put into developing its own defini- a gender verification test. that it's easy for them."q

NCAA announces 5-year strategy for women's basketball

By DOUG FEINBERG coming off another strong rolling out our new game announced that all three en's basketball. The leaders
AP Basketball Writer Final Four that saw Baylor plan for the next five years." women's basketball col- of the Women's Basketball
NEW YORK (AP) — The edge Notre Dame for the The NCAA wants to in- lege championships will Coaches Association, USA
NCAA announced a five- title. Ratings were up and crease the number of qual- be played together in Dal- Basketball, ESPN, and other
year strategy Monday pro- attendance for the entire ified officials in the pipeline las in 2023 in conjunction strategic partners also par-
viding guidelines for deci- tournament was at its high- through enhancing skill with the 50th anniversary ticipated in the feedback
sion making across all three est in 15 years . development, evaluations of Title IX. The NCAA also and planning process.
divisions, the first time the "Women's college basket- and accountability of the played all three Final Fours "Values drive behavior and
NCAA has come up with ball just experienced a phe- referees. The NCAA also together in 2016 when the sharing these values across
a cross-divisional plan for a nomenal and exhilarating plans to collaborate with national semifinals were in all of NCAA women's bas-
single sport. postseason with the 2019 the Sports Science Institute Indianapolis. ketball is important," Holz-
College sports' governing NCAA Division I Women's to promote mental health The NCAA engaged more man said. "As we work to
body will explore poten- Final Four and the Division II awareness for women's than 1,000 stakeholders in grow this sport, we encour-
tial changes to champi- and III national champion- basketball. There will also development of its five- age others to join us in be-
onship formats, officiating ships," said Lynn Holzman, be a review of champion- year plan that will guide ing champions for women's
and other areas in an effort NCAA vice president of ship formats to try and en- Divisions I, II and III in collab- basketball by getting in-
to further popularize the women's basketball. "Play- hance site selections for oration with their key stake- volved as the NCAA rolls out
game. ing off these successes, we regionals. holders to express a shared our action plans and priori-
Women's basketball is are excited to be officially Earlier this week the NCAA vision for the future of wom- ties later this summer."q