South Africa’s Semenya cleared to race in Rabat
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - Organisers of the IAAF Diamond League in Rabat on Friday back-tracked from their decision to bar South Africa’s Olympic champion Caster Semenya.
Semenya was earlier this week barred from competing in the 800 metre event by the Moroccan Athletics Federation.
On Thursday, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland rejected the IAAF's urgent request for permission to bar Semenya pending further court action.
The IAAF and Athletics South Africa have until 25 June to make submissions to the court on Semenya's request that the IAAF regulations be suspended throughout the entire appeal proceedings.
Semenya was earlier this year ordered to drop her testosterone levels after she lost her appeal against rules designed to decrease naturally high testosterone levels in female athletes.
The 28-year-old challenged an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruling.
Three judges at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland earlier this month ruled that "on the basis of the evidence submitted by the parties, such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF's aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics in the Restricted Events".
The case has provoked a global debate about gender and "hyperandrogenic" athletes and the World Medical Association has urged doctors not to enforce the rules.
Meanwhile, Semenya has confirmed that she will race the 3,000 metre Diamond League Prefontaine Classic in California on 30 June.
Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion, will be an outsider in a field that includes world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri and world indoor 1,500m and 3,000m champion Genzebe Dibaba.
-0- PANA CU/RA 14June2019
