IAAF, South Africa Discuss Semenya Case -- Federation Focus

(ATR) The IAAF and Athletics South Africa (ASA) come out of a meeting agreeing that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) should be the final arbiter on the legality of IAAF’s new female classification regulations.

Last week, Caster Semenya went to CAS and officially challenged the new IAAF rule that would force her to take medication to reduce her natural testosterone levels in order to compete.

Semenya, double Olympic Champion and triple World Champion in the 800 meters, competes with high levels of naturally occurring testosterone in her body. Some of her rival competitors have complained that the South African’s hyperandrogenism gives her an unfair advantage on the track. With higher than usual levels of testosterone, Semenya is prone to have more muscle mass, strength and hemoglobin, which benefits her endurance.

IAAF president Sebastian Coe, in the meeting on Tuesday in London with ASA, made it clear that no individual athlete was being targeted in the creation of the new regulations, which he said are needed to ensure an equal playing field for all athletes in the sport.

"To do this we need to create competition categories within our sport that ensures that success is determined by talent, dedication and hard work, rather than by other factors that are not considered fair or meaningful, such as the enormous physical advantages that an adult has over a child, or a male athlete has over a female athlete," said Coe in a statement.

ASA president Aleck Skhosana stressed that all athletes, including female athletes who may fall foul of these new regulations, need to be protected.

"While we have been talking to the IAAF since 10 May 2018, we would have preferred more consultation in the development of these regulations," Skhosana said in a statement. "We will support our athletes on the grounds that the regulations discriminate against certain female athletes on the basis of natural physical characteristics and/or sex."

According to the IAAF, the meeting was cordial with both sides agreeing to respect the decision CAS reaches in the Semenya case.

Olympic Day Celebrations in Paris Include Baseball

The French Baseball and Softball Federation set up two batting cages on the River Seine on Olympic Day. Instructors were there to help participants improve their swing.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet were among the more than 1,000 who visited the batting cages on June 23.

FFBS president Didier Seminet said in a statement,"We are delighted that baseball and softball could play such a prominent role in Paris’ wonderful Olympic Day celebration. We truly believe that ours is the most inclusive team sport in the world, and it was heart-warming to see so many boys and girls picking up a bat for the very first time."

The cages were just one activity during the festivities, organized by Paris 2024 and CNOSF. More than 30 Olympic and Paralympic disciplines organized activities.

ITTF to Support Marketing in Europe and Latin America

The table tennis federation is spreading its marketing support to Europe and Latin America in its ongoing effort to grow the sport.

ITTF president Thomas Weikert said in a statement, "As part of the priorities, the ITTF is firmly committed to invest in our Continents to help increase marketing and commercial activities to take our sport to the next level. We believe that we can only achieve long-term and sustainable growth in our sport if we work collaboratively with our Continental partners, National Associations, and event organizers moving forward."

Investments will specifically support sponsorship, promotions, and event management. The federation found recent success in engaging fans through social media. ITTF will continue focusing on these platforms.

Oceania and North America made similar arrangements in 2016. More regions could announce similar partnerships in the near future.

Written by Gerard Farek andJeffrey Farek

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