Semenya appeal ‘a tough one’
The side- effects of the testosterone reducing drug will take centre stage at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, believes leading sport scientist Dr Ross Tucker.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) on Monday said it would lodge an appeal after Olympic champion Caster Semenya lost her case challenging new rules forcing female athletes to regulate their testosterone levels.
Semenya's case has provoked a furious debate across sport worldwide about gender and hyperandrogenic athletes and those with differences in sexual development.
The decision on May 1 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, means female athletes with elevated testosterone will have to take suppressive treatment if they wish to compete as women in certain events.
Tucker says the appeal will be a tough one.
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"But obviously the people consulted feel there's a good enough chance of succeeding an appeal in order to winning. One would assume that the Athletics South Africa delegates have received advice that this appeal is winnable."
Tucker says the fact that it still unknown what will happen to Semenya should she take the drugs.
"The medical protocol was not standardised, there was no evidence that it would be effective so fundamental to this issue is nobody knows whether the medical protocols are successful or not in lowering the testosterone."
"By lowering testosterone the athlete’s performance will be impaired. How much? That is the million dollar question. Basically, it’s what this whole case boils down to."
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