IAAF to apply testosterone rules more widely against court's advice

Track and field's governing body said Thursday that it will apply new testosterone rules to the 1,500 meters against the advice of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), according to The Associated Press' Gerald Imray.

International Association of Athletics Federations president Sebastian Coe's decision comes a day after the CAS upheld IAAF guidelines limiting testosterone levels for female athletes competing in some events, including the 800-meter race. The regulation was being appealed by two-time Olympic 800-meters winner Caster Semenya, who has a naturally high level of testosterone.

However, the CAS' ruling highlighted a "paucity of evidence" that female athletes benefit from higher testosterone levels in the 1,500-meter and 1-mile competitions, and the court recommended delaying such restrictions in those events until further evidence is presented.

When asked if the IAAF would heed the suggestion, former 800-meter world-record holder Coe bluntly responded, "No."

Semenya criticized Wednesday's ruling in a statement.

"I know that the IAAF's regulations have always targeted me specifically. For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger," said the South African, who won bronze in the 1,500 at the 2017 world championships.

Semenya, 26, and Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba, who also says she has naturally high testosterone levels, will both compete in the 800 at the Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar this Friday. The testosterone regulations come into effect next week.