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South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya has won the 800m race at the Diamond League meeting in Doha.
The Olympic Champion won the race on Friday in 1 minute, 54.98 seconds two days after she lost a landmark case against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) over the rules seeking to suppress her testosterone levels.
This is her last race before the implementation of the controversial rules seeking to limit testosterone levels in female athletes with Differences in Sexual Development (DSD). The regulations take effect on May 8th.
The introduction of the rules means Semenya must now begin to take drugs to lower her testosterone levels if she wishes to compete in events from 400 meters to a mile.
The rules require such female athletes to medically limit the level of testosterone to below 5 nmol/L.
Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass, strength, and hemoglobin, which affects endurance.
Speaking after winning the race on Friday, the 28-year-old said she has no plans to retire.
“It’s up to God. God has decided my life, God will end my life; God has decided my career, God will end my career. No man, or any other human, can stop me from running. How am I going to retire when I’m 28? I still feel young, energetic. I still have 10 years or more in athletics."
“It doesn’t matter how I’m going to do it, what matters is I’ll still be here. I am never going anywhere. I’m going to keep on doing what I do best – which is running.”
Comments
You know a lawsuit is coming.
White people men. I flat out hate them
Nothing wrong here. I wouldn’t wanna run with a dude if I was a lady too. She/HE has taken many a medal from Kenyan women, they need to make playing field level for sure.
Just look though, this is a DUDE 😆😂😂😆
Some of those who support Semenya claim that her advantage from hayperandrogenism is no different from the advantage tall athletes have in basket ball.This is not the same. First of all in basketball there are no categories by height or weight.
When it comes to athletics, there is no argument that men have an advantage over women due to high level of testosterone hormones.Semenya has XY chromosome like men...that's why her testosterone level is in the range of men.But interestingly, her best day in 800 meters cannot come even close to that of best man in high school, 16-18year olds,which is about 1.46.45. Her best is about1.54.00.So I can see why she would run as awomen even though chromosomelly she is aman...
There is no way for her to naturally lower her testosterone level other than taking medication.To that end, I see why its unfair. Folks this is a tough one. Focus has been put on Semenya,but there are quite anumber of hyperandogenic athletes.Our own Margarete Wamboi Nyairera seems to fall in that category.
Some scientific work is getting traction,lately that shows human beings do not fit nicely in a BINARY mold of male-female.And that "sex" is fluid...This farther convolute the current controvercy.What level of testosterone should women have to be considered women?
Yes it aman'world when it comes to sports. Its all about BIG COHONES raving with male hormones called testosterone .My two cents.