South African Olympic champion, Caster Semenya, who found herself in the eye of a controversial storm when her naturally elevated levels of testosterone were challenged, lost her right to participate in all women’s events from now on. The two-time 800 m medalist was disappointed with the ruling by the highest court in international sports which said that female track athletes like Semenya, who have naturally elevated levels of the hormone, need to decrease them if they want to take part in women’s events.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport addressed head on the question that it has been struggling to answer for decades: What is the best way to decide who can compete in women’s events? The court agreed that placing restrictions on permitted levels of natural testosterone was discriminatory but it had no choice since it was a “necessary, reasonable and proportionate means” of preserving the integrity of female competition.

The issue was brought to the highest court by the International Association of Athletics Federation which said it that was grateful for the ruling. The association has always argued that athletes such as Semenya had an unfair advantage over other women due to their extra muscle mass and power.

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