Semenya backing grows
Caster Semenya continues to receive backing from around the world, with the World Medical Association warning doctors not to prescribe treatment to hyperandrogenic athletes or those with differences in sexual development, in order to regulate testosterone levels.
World Medical Association (WMA) chairperson Frank Ulrich Montgomery has advised doctors to play no part in enforcing a new gender rule by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which is attempting to regulate some athletes like South African runner Caster Semenya.
This follows Semenya losing her court challenge against the IAAF last week, which wants to force her to undergo a suppressive treatment if she wishes to compete as a woman in certain events.
Montgomery said no physician can be forced to administer these suppressive drugs, and thus urged his colleagues to refrain from giving hormonally active medication to athletes simply because some regulations demand it.
“The basic ethical code of all medical practice is to never do harm, and it is doing harm to a perfectly normal body, with just a rather high level of testosterone, by administering drugs in order to make them (hyperandrogenic athletes) eligible for women's sport under these regulations.
“We do think that it is extremely serious if international sport regulations demand physicians to describe medication - hormonally active medication - for athletes in order to reduce normal conditions in their bodies,” Montgomery said.
He added the argument that Semenya has an unfair advantage over others didn't make sense, using the height of some basketball players to make his point.
“The next issue would be that we demand basketball players who are taller than 2.2 metres should reduce their height surgically to something else because, of course, they do have an advantage over other basketball players that are somewhat smaller,” he said.
“So where is the limit to this? And therefore we say medicine shouldn't interfere with non-pathological situations simply to enhance sports activities.”
Sharing the same sentiments is Dr Amad Asadai, chairperson of the Namibia Medical Centre.
Speaking in his personal capacity, he said Semenya's testosterone levels were and are not aided by any human intervention.
“There are so many places this argument can go, but naturally she just has a lot more testosterone then others. Disallowing her from competing in certain races, in order to level the playing field and because she has a slight advantage, is unfair.
“It's like saying that we should suppress the growth hormones of certain basketball players just because they appear taller than the rest, giving them an advantage,” Asadai said.
Semenya can appeal against the ruling within 30 days.
Condemnation
There was surprise and global condemnation following the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) ruling in support of the IAAF rule, which will see athletes with differences in sexual development forced to take medication to artificially lower their testosterone levels.
Semenya, 28, grew up in a village in the poverty-hit province of Limpopo and studied sports sciences at her local university. She began running and training for football, but rapidly began winning medals at the highest level.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is now considering approaching the Swiss federal tribunal in an effort to overturn the judgment.
South African athletes have also rallied behind Semenya. Wayde van Niekerk, the men's 400m Olympic champion and world record holder, said the issue “goes beyond track and field”.
Sprinter Anaso Jobodwana accused the IAAF of “a useless, degrading witch-hunt”.
Under the rules to take effect tomorrow, female athletes with high natural levels of testosterone wishing to compete in events from the 400m to the mile must medically limit their testosterone levels to less than five nanomoles per litre (nmol/L). The normal level for women is below two nmol/L.
Double Olympic champion Semenya has said she will not take medication to reduce her testosterone levels to comply with the new rules.
The South African won what could be her last competitive 800 metres race at the Diamond League meeting in Doha this past Friday.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
LIMBA MUPETAMI
This follows Semenya losing her court challenge against the IAAF last week, which wants to force her to undergo a suppressive treatment if she wishes to compete as a woman in certain events.
Montgomery said no physician can be forced to administer these suppressive drugs, and thus urged his colleagues to refrain from giving hormonally active medication to athletes simply because some regulations demand it.
“The basic ethical code of all medical practice is to never do harm, and it is doing harm to a perfectly normal body, with just a rather high level of testosterone, by administering drugs in order to make them (hyperandrogenic athletes) eligible for women's sport under these regulations.
“We do think that it is extremely serious if international sport regulations demand physicians to describe medication - hormonally active medication - for athletes in order to reduce normal conditions in their bodies,” Montgomery said.
He added the argument that Semenya has an unfair advantage over others didn't make sense, using the height of some basketball players to make his point.
“The next issue would be that we demand basketball players who are taller than 2.2 metres should reduce their height surgically to something else because, of course, they do have an advantage over other basketball players that are somewhat smaller,” he said.
“So where is the limit to this? And therefore we say medicine shouldn't interfere with non-pathological situations simply to enhance sports activities.”
Sharing the same sentiments is Dr Amad Asadai, chairperson of the Namibia Medical Centre.
Speaking in his personal capacity, he said Semenya's testosterone levels were and are not aided by any human intervention.
“There are so many places this argument can go, but naturally she just has a lot more testosterone then others. Disallowing her from competing in certain races, in order to level the playing field and because she has a slight advantage, is unfair.
“It's like saying that we should suppress the growth hormones of certain basketball players just because they appear taller than the rest, giving them an advantage,” Asadai said.
Semenya can appeal against the ruling within 30 days.
Condemnation
There was surprise and global condemnation following the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) ruling in support of the IAAF rule, which will see athletes with differences in sexual development forced to take medication to artificially lower their testosterone levels.
Semenya, 28, grew up in a village in the poverty-hit province of Limpopo and studied sports sciences at her local university. She began running and training for football, but rapidly began winning medals at the highest level.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is now considering approaching the Swiss federal tribunal in an effort to overturn the judgment.
South African athletes have also rallied behind Semenya. Wayde van Niekerk, the men's 400m Olympic champion and world record holder, said the issue “goes beyond track and field”.
Sprinter Anaso Jobodwana accused the IAAF of “a useless, degrading witch-hunt”.
Under the rules to take effect tomorrow, female athletes with high natural levels of testosterone wishing to compete in events from the 400m to the mile must medically limit their testosterone levels to less than five nanomoles per litre (nmol/L). The normal level for women is below two nmol/L.
Double Olympic champion Semenya has said she will not take medication to reduce her testosterone levels to comply with the new rules.
The South African won what could be her last competitive 800 metres race at the Diamond League meeting in Doha this past Friday.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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