This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
South African athlete Caster Semenya will miss the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, in September after a Swiss judge overruled a temporary suspension on the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) controversial testosterone-curbing rules.
The 28-year-old, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, had been temporarily allowed to compete in events between the 400m and mile, but the ruling means she can no longer do so.
"I am very disappointed to be kept from defending my hard-earned title, but this will not deter me from continuing my fight for the human rights of all of the female athletes concerned," Semenya said in a statement.
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court made the decision on Monday, citing the strict requirements and high thresholds for the interim suspension of Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) awards.
"We will continue to pursue Caster's appeal and fight for her fundamental human rights," said Dorothee Schramm, the lawyer leading Semenya's appeal.
The IAAF has argued that women like Semenya, with certain masculine attributes due to differences of sexual development (DSD), are biologically classified as men and would have an advantage in all events based on their levels of testosterone.
The World Championships are scheduled to take place between September 28 and October 6 in Doha.
