Kenyans divided over ruling on testosterone levels

Caster Semenya waits to compete in the women's 800m final at Carrara Stadium during the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia. Caster Semenya lost her appeal Wednesday, May 1, 2019, against rules designed to decrease naturally high testosterone levels in some female runners. [File, AP]

Kenyans weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Wednesday ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest court in international sports on levels of testosterone in women in sports.

South Africa's Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion, had challenged new IAAF rules which restricts testosterone levels in women athletes.

Athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) must now take medication to compete in some track events or change to another race.

Semenya has maintained that she is a woman and should be able to compete as one without suppressing her hormone.

Kenyan athletics fraternity, however, have divided opinion on the controversy over sex testing in sports with some supporting the idea while denying.

Janeth Jepkosgei, the 2007 World 800m champion who competed with Semenya on numerous international events, believes athletes born with higher testosterone shouldn’t be forced to suppress it but IAAF should create a category for them.

Jepkosgei was quick to note that though she lost to her in many competitions, she doesn’t feel bad about it.

“Here we are fighting nature against science, it will always be controversial. I have competed against Semenya, she was born like that, she is herself, forcing her to suppress her testosterone level will be inhuman not only to her but any sports person”

She added: “Because the board made the solution, then IAAF should create an event for such people because they are many.”

Jepkosgei’s comment was also supported by coach Bernard Ouma of Rongai Athletics club terming it subjective.  

“It's too skewed and subjective, understand athletics is about gender and age. How do you regulate nature?”

However, some Kenyans believe that the decision made to hold the ruling is good for sports with Athletics Kenya senior coach Julius Kirwa supporting it.

“To me, it's fair ruling, in fact, IAAF should spread the testosterone testing to all races not only 800m. It will give all women equal playground where they enter the start line,” said Kirwa. 

Elsewhere, Athletics South Africa (ASA) says it is "reeling in shock" after Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya lost a landmark case against athletics' governing body.

"We are reeling in shock at how a body held in high esteem like Cas can endorse discrimination without flinching," said ASA in a statement on Wednesday.

"For CAS does not only condone discrimination but also goes to lengths to justify it, only undermines the integrity that this body is entrusted with. We are deeply disappointed and profoundly shocked.

Yesterday, Sebastian Coe, president of the IAAF, welcomed the court's decision.

Speaking in a news conference for Friday's Diamond League meeting in Doha, he said: "I think this is pretty straightforward and very straightforward for any international federation in sport; athletics has two classifications - gender and age."