October 16, 2018: Today, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the international governing body for track and field, announced that it will delay the implementation of its proposed policy regarding eligibility regulations for female classification which were meant to take effect on November 1, 2018. IAAF will delay implementation of the regulations until the legal challenge filed by Caster Semenya and Athletics South Africa (ASA) in the Court of Arbitration for Sport is ruled upon; a decision is expected by March 2019.
Despite public pressure and scrutiny, Semenya has embraced this advocacy role with dignity and courage. The Women’s Sports Foundation unequivocally supports Semenya in her challenge to a discriminatory rule that if passed, will place women’s bodies, their wellbeing, livelihood, identity and privacy at imminent risk.
It is the position of the Women’s Sports Foundation that eligibility standards for women’s sports that require female athletes to demonstrate particular hormone levels perpetuate the historical discrimination that has been prevalent in women’s sports for decades. We are confident that, when presented with the facts, the Court of Arbitration for Sport will uphold the human rights of all athletes.