Annoying. Between Caster Semenya and the IAAF, the standoff continues to hesitate on which side to lean. A blow to the right, a blow to the left. But still no real winner.
Monday June 3, the pendulum opted for the South African camp. The Swiss Federal Court, seized last week by the Caster Semenya clan, temporarily suspended the IAAF regulations on hyperandrogenic athletes. The double Olympic 800m champion is therefore free to compete in the distance of her choice. She can compete in her favorite event without having to take medication to lower her testosterone levels.
The announcement was made by the lawyers of the South African athlete. “ The Swiss Federal Court has ordered the IAAF to immediately suspend the application of eligibility rules against Caster Semenya, allowing her to compete without restriction while her appeal is pending., they explained in a press release.
On May 1, the Court of Arbitration for Sport delivered an opposing verdict. He agreed with the IAAF.
Victory therefore changed sides. But it remains very relative. First, the decision of the Swiss Supreme Court is “ super-provisional ». Clearly, it suspends the application of the IAAF regulations, but without consigning them to oblivion. The dispute between the two parties is put on hold until a new hearing is held. It could be held on June 25, 2019. The South African did not win her battle against the IAAF. She only got to continue the exchange.
Second, the Swiss court's decision only concerns Caster Semenya. It applies to his case alone, not to those of other hyperandrogenic athletes, including his next two in the 800m final at the Rio 2016 Games, the Burundian Francine Nyonsaba and the Kenyan Margaret Wambui.
However, the IAAF is now forced to present new arguments. Above all, she sees herself obliged to continue to bring a case which has already seriously damaged its image and that of its president, the Briton Sebastian Coe.
The international organization based in Monaco refused on Monday to comment on the announcement of the Swiss court's decision. “ We have not received any information from the Swiss Federal Court, so it is not possible for us to comment.", explained an IAAF spokesperson.
Caster Semenya, for her part, reacted to the news via her lawyers. “ I thank the Swiss judges for this decision. I hope that following my appeal I will be allowed to run freely again.”, she confided.
Will the Swiss court decision modify its competition program? Likely. But her agents admitted Monday evening that Caster Semenya had not yet decided where, and when, she would compete in the 800m.
The South African is announced in Montreuil, near Paris, Tuesday June 11. His presence has been confirmed. She was initially scheduled to compete in the 2.000m, a distance not affected by IAAF regulations. But she could change her plans and opt for the 800m.
The rest remains very conditional. Two meetings of the Diamond League offer a women's 800 m, before June 25, the announced date of the next episode of the series: June 13 in Oslo, then June 16 in Rabat. Caster Semenya is also entered on June 30 in Stanford, California, for the Prefontaine Classic. She must compete in the 3.000 m there.
