Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

CAS sets March 26 deadline for verdict in Semenya case

LAUSANNE (Reuters) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has set a deadline of March 26 for a verdict in the appeal hearing of Caster Semenya against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that concluded on Friday.

CAS sets March 26 deadline for verdict in Semenya case
(Reuters)

CAS have called the hearing "one of the most pivotal CAS cases" that could have a wide reaching consequence not just for the future of athletics, but sport in general.

"The Panel has had the opportunity to hear from all parties, experts and witnesses, with the IAAF President, Lord Coe, speaking at the outset of the hearing, and Ms Semenya having the last word," CAS said in a statement.

"The hearing was conducted in a cordial and respectful atmosphere throughout the entire week."

South African 800-metres double Olympic champion Semenya is seeking to overturn a new set of IAAF regulations that are aimed at lowering the testosterone levels of hyperandrogenic athletes.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

The IAAF contend that Semenya and other female athletes that are classed as having differences in sexual development (DSDs) gain an unfair advantage due to their higher testosterone levels, but only in races between 400 and 1000-metres.

Semenya brought experts to the hearing to contest this view and provide evidence on the potential negative physical and mental effects of forcing athletes to lower naturally occurring testosterone levels through medication.

The IAAF's previous attempts to regulate testosterone in female athletes fell foul of a CAS ruling in 2015 following an appeal on behalf of Indian Dutee Chand, who had been banned from competing because of her high levels.

CAS claimed in their judgement at the time that the IAAF had not provided sufficient evidence that hyperandrogenic athletes gained a significant advantage, which the global body now say they have provided to the court.

(Reporting By Nick Said; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)


2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world