The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Semenya out of World Championships after Swiss court reverses reprieve

Caster Semenya
Caster Semenya has been dealt another setback Keystone

Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya will not defend her 800-metres title at the World Championships in Doha in September after the Swiss Federal Court reversed a ruling that temporarily lifted testosterone regulations imposed on her, her spokesman says.

Semenya is appealing the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for SportExternal link (CAS) ruling on May 1 that supported the regulations of the International Association of Athletics FederationsExternal link (IAAF) which say XY chromosome athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) can race in distances from 400m to a mile only if they take medication to reach a reduced testosterone level. 

The South African athlete has naturally high testosterone levels. 

“I am very disappointed to be kept from defending my hard-earned title, but this will not deter me from continuing my fight for the human rights of all of the female athletes concerned,” Semenya said in a statement from her representative. 

The IAAF said it would only comment once it has read the full reasoning behind the judgement, expected on Wednesday.

+ Why are Swiss judges ruling on the Caster Semenya case? 

Semenya’s hopes were lifted on June 3 when the Federal CourtExternal link granted her a temporary right to compete without medication until it ruled on her appeal. 

The CAS had indicated that requiring athletes with DSD to take medication to lower testosterone levels was discriminatory but was a “necessary, reasonable and appropriate means” to maintain fair play for all. 

The Federal Court’s decision on Tuesday will have wide-reaching consequences for gender politics and science and could set a precedent for all women’s sports, not just athletics.  

Semenya could now appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, arguing a human rights violation.


More

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Millionaires prioritise well-being over material possessions

More

High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions

This content was published on The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.

Read more: High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
Spanish flu: virus genome deciphered a century later

More

Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus

This content was published on Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.

Read more: Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
Three inmates attempt to escape from Sion prison

More

Prison escape foiled by Swiss police

This content was published on Three inmates attempted to escape from Sion prison on Sunday morning. Their capture required a major police operation.

Read more: Prison escape foiled by Swiss police
The start of the holiday season means long traffic jams on the Gotthard

More

Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season

This content was published on The start of the summer holidays saw a long traffic jam in front of the Gotthard tunnel on Saturday. Traffic jams between Erstfeld and Göschenen in canton Uri were up to 11 kilometres long early in the morning.

Read more: Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR