Semenya fights back

Caster Semenya has appealed a testosterone ruling at the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, with the backing of her home country.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) has backed Caster Semenya by also lodging an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) about the testosterone controversy, which has threatened the athlete's future career.

In a statement ASA said it has instructed its Swiss lawyers, represented by Alexandre Zen-Ruffinen, to inform the president of the Swiss Federal Court of its intention to appeal the decision of the CAS, which was announced on 30 April.

The CAS pronouncement concerned the IAAF eligibility regulations for female classification (athletes with differences of sex development) for track events ranging from the 400m up to and including one mile, which are now in force.

ASA's Swiss lawyers have in turn informed the Swiss Federal Court that ASA's appeal will be filed once the original CAS ruling has been received by the parties.

Meanwhile, ASA is aware that Semenya, has lodged her own appeal against the CAS award, with the request that the IAAF regulations be wholly suspended pending the finalisation of the appeal.

NAMPA/ANA