The IAAF has published new Eligibility Regulations for Female Classification for events that include the 800m and 1500 metre races.
This now means that South Africa’s Caster Semenya will have to lower her testosterone levels to be able to compete in any of these events.
She is currently the reigning 800m champion and Commonwealth Games 1500m champion.
According to the regulations published on the IAAF’s website on Thursday, “the new Regulations require any athlete who has a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD) that means her levels of circulating testosterone (in serum) are five (5) nmol/L or above and who is androgen-sensitive to meet the following criteria to be eligible to compete in Restricted Events in an International Competition (or set a World Record in a Restricted Event at competition that is not an International Competition).
Furthermore, the athlete must:
(a) be recognised at law either as female or as intersex (or equivalent);
(b) reduce her blood testosterone level to below five (5) nmol/L for a continuous period of at least six months (e.g., by use of hormonal contraceptives); and
(c) thereafter, maintain her blood testosterone level below five (5) nmol/L continuously (ie: whether she is in competition or out of competition) for so long as she wishes to remain eligible.
These new Regulations, approved by the IAAF Council in March, will come into effect from 1 November 2018 and replace the previous Regulations Governing Eligibility of Females with Hyperandrogenism to Compete in Women's Competition, which no longer applies anywhere in the sport.
“We want athletes to be incentivised to make the huge commitment and sacrifice required to excel in the sport, and to inspire new generations to join the sport and aspire to the same excellence,” said IAAF President, Sebastian Coe.