Caster Semenya loses appeal against IAAF testosterone rules

A Swiss-based panel has ruled against South African athlete Caster Semenya on Wednesday, rejecting her appeal against regulations to limit testosterone for female middle-distance runners.

Semenya is believed to be intersex. She has demanded arbitration after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced plans to impose testosterone limits on female athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD).

According to the IAAF, unusually high testosterone levels give the athletes a competitive advantage in events from 400 meters to one mile (1609 meters).

Last month, the UN Human Rights Council publically slammed the IAAF rules as "unnecessary, humiliating, and harmful."

In Wednesday's verdict, the Court of Arbitration for Sport's panel (CAS) said the IAAF's new rules were "discriminatory."

At the same time "such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means" to preserve the integrity of female athletics, the court said.

A response released by her lawyers also cites Semenya as saying the IAAF rules "targeted" her specifically.

"For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger," she was quoted as saying.

"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."