Feel sorry for Caster Semeya, says Dutee Chand

Feel sorry for Caster Semeya, says Dutee Chand

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Dutee Chand has slammed IAAF’s win over Caster Semeya and asking hyperandrogenous athletes to take medication for lowering their testosterone levels at certain events, stating that it would only discourage people from taking up the sport. Chand also felt that the South African didn’t get justice.

May 1 saw a landmark win for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) went ahead and rejected Caster Semeyer’s challenge making way for the new rules to come into effect on 8 May, 2019, in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m event. 

It was back in 2009 that the IAAF had asked Semeya to oblige for a sex verification test in assuring she was a female after she had shown dramatic improvements of 25 seconds at 1500 m and eight seconds at 800 m. The sprinter has come under a lot of criticism since then and so has the IAAF. In India, Dutee had a similar scenario when she had lost her appeal against an IAAF ban for hyperandrogenism in 2015. And the Indian athlete felt that CAS gave Semeya a hard time like her as well.

“She fought the battle. I feel sad for her. I feel she did not get justice. She should have been given permission to participate in her events without any regulations. I feel sorry for Semenya,” said Dutee, reported TOI.

The new proceedings, although won’t be affecting Dutee directly since it is applicable only from 400m to the mile, Dutee and her coach Nagpuri Ramesh were “disappointed” with the development. They were of the opinion that IAAF’s regulation wouldn’t allow a level playing field.

“In athletics, there are girls who are four-feet tall and there are some who are six-feet. Is it a level playing field?” asked Ramesh. He also assured that Dutee would continue in only 100 and 200m.

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