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IAAF defends rules on intersex athletes after Swiss court ruling

The new rules prevent Caster Semenya from defending her world title in the 800 meters at the world championships in Qatar in September — unless she submits to them.

Caster Semenya after winning an Olympic silver medal in 800 meters in 2012.
Caster Semenya after winning an Olympic silver medal in 800 meters in 2012. (AN/Ghar El Melh)

GENEVA (AN) — The governing body of track and field said it welcomed a decision from Switzerland's highest court that two-time Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya must follow new rules meant to lower naturally high testosterone levels in female runners with an intersex condition.

"This decision creates much needed parity and clarity for all athletes as they prepare for the World Championships in Doha this September," the Monaco-based International Association of Athletics Federations, or IAAF, said on Wednesday.

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