A Spanish professor of biochemistry José María Odriozola has astonishingly declared that because Caster Semenya has more testosterone than most men she has an undoubted advantage.
Odriozola, who is a member of of the IAAF Board of Directors, made the comment during an interview with Spanish Sport magazine.
The former president of the Spanish athletics federation, Odriozola has backed the newly-implemented testosterone restrictions imposed on female athletes, insisting that Semenya is a “biological man.”
“She says the IAAF is against her, but the rules are for everyone,” he said.
“Her case comes from the World Championships in Berlin 2009. She has XY chromosomes, like men, and then a series of hormonal internal controls that make her hyperandrogenic.
BOARD: José María Odriozola is part of the IAAF board. Photo: Sebastien Nogier/EPA.
“Semenya has more testosterone than most men and that gives her an undoubted advantage,” Odriozola added emphasising that the IAAF’s rule was aimed at ensuring fair competition.
Semenya lost a landmark case against the IAAF at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in May, which means she will have to take medication to reduce her testosterone levels if she wants to continue running on the world stage.
We here 💥💥💥🐍 https://t.co/F8XPNLt1aA
— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) August 7, 2019
When making its verdict, CAS admitted the rule was "discriminatory" but it also said the policy was "necessary, reasonable and proportionate" to protect the fairness of women's sport.
The 28-year-old middle-distance athlete is attempting to block new rules on female participation brought in by the IAAF, who insist they are to create a level playing field.
Semenya will miss next month's IAAF World Championships in Qatar because of the verdict.
African News Agency