Semenya in the dock
The IAAF has proposed eligibility rules for athletes with hyperandrogenism, while Semenya wants these rules overturned, so she can compete without having her testosterone levels lowered.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) has expressed its disappointment with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after it released the names and backgrounds of expert witnesses and their views on the topics to be covered by them in the current proceedings at Caster Semenya's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) case.
ASA said on Monday it believes the IAAF has violated the confidentiality agreement between it and the court.
“Athletics South Africa notes with great dismay and disappointment that despite the parties having been bound to confidentiality undertakings and ASA consistently adhering to them, the IAAF has during the course of the proceedings this morning released the names and backgrounds of their expert witnesses and provided a brief exposé of their views of the topics to be covered by them in the current proceedings at the CAS,” ASA said in a statement.
This is in clear violation of the confidentiality undertaking made to CAS and in ASA's view, these amount to underhand tactics to try and win support for their views in the court of public opinion, ASA added.
Both ASA and Semenya raised their objections before the CAS panel and the panel directed that ASA and Semenya may issue a press statement similar to the one issued by the IAAF.
“ASA will, in due course, be making a more comprehensive disclosure of its experts' views on the issues at hand, to enable the public to be made aware of our various roleplayers in this case and their fields of expertise, who will counter the expert evidence to be tendered by the IAAF.
“The arbitration proceedings are subject to strict confidentiality provisions and this information should not have been released,” ASA said.
ASA and Semenya believe the IAAF breach of the confidentiality provisions was orchestrated while keeping in mind that ASA and Semenya would not be prepared to respond, because they were complying with the confidentiality obligations.
“We are grateful to the CAS for the opportunity to present our case and for granting us permission to choose whether to disclose our list of experts publicly in response to the IAAF or not.
“Going forward the CAS has reiterated that the arbitration proceedings are confidential and information about the case should not be disclosed publicly.
We trust the IAAF will now respect the process and comply accordingly,” the ASA added.
The IAAF has proposed eligibility rules for athletes with hyperandrogenism, a medical condition in which women may have excessive levels of male hormones such as testosterone. Semenya wants to overturn those rules.
The scheduled five-day appeal case is among the longest ever heard by the sports court.
NAMPA/ANA
ASA said on Monday it believes the IAAF has violated the confidentiality agreement between it and the court.
“Athletics South Africa notes with great dismay and disappointment that despite the parties having been bound to confidentiality undertakings and ASA consistently adhering to them, the IAAF has during the course of the proceedings this morning released the names and backgrounds of their expert witnesses and provided a brief exposé of their views of the topics to be covered by them in the current proceedings at the CAS,” ASA said in a statement.
This is in clear violation of the confidentiality undertaking made to CAS and in ASA's view, these amount to underhand tactics to try and win support for their views in the court of public opinion, ASA added.
Both ASA and Semenya raised their objections before the CAS panel and the panel directed that ASA and Semenya may issue a press statement similar to the one issued by the IAAF.
“ASA will, in due course, be making a more comprehensive disclosure of its experts' views on the issues at hand, to enable the public to be made aware of our various roleplayers in this case and their fields of expertise, who will counter the expert evidence to be tendered by the IAAF.
“The arbitration proceedings are subject to strict confidentiality provisions and this information should not have been released,” ASA said.
ASA and Semenya believe the IAAF breach of the confidentiality provisions was orchestrated while keeping in mind that ASA and Semenya would not be prepared to respond, because they were complying with the confidentiality obligations.
“We are grateful to the CAS for the opportunity to present our case and for granting us permission to choose whether to disclose our list of experts publicly in response to the IAAF or not.
“Going forward the CAS has reiterated that the arbitration proceedings are confidential and information about the case should not be disclosed publicly.
We trust the IAAF will now respect the process and comply accordingly,” the ASA added.
The IAAF has proposed eligibility rules for athletes with hyperandrogenism, a medical condition in which women may have excessive levels of male hormones such as testosterone. Semenya wants to overturn those rules.
The scheduled five-day appeal case is among the longest ever heard by the sports court.
NAMPA/ANA
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