The Times newspaper predicts the global governing body’s stance at Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing

The IAAF will argue Caster Semenya should be classified as a ‘biological male’ who identifies as a female at a landmark Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing next week.

News of the IAAF’s probable stance was reported in The Times with the newspaper predicting the global governing body will insist the Olympic 800m champion can only compete in women’s events if she takes testosterone suppressants.

However, the IAAF was quick to refute the claims, issuing a statement here which denied the claims in The Times.

The IAAF was due to bring in new rules on female classification in November, with female athletes with high testosterone levels having to race against men or switch events unless they took medication. But in October it delayed the introduction of the rules until March amid a challenge from Semenya.

Repercussions of next week’s hearing will have an impact on other intersex athletes and is also certain to continue to divide opinion.

Many believe female athletes with naturally high levels of testosterone should not be discriminated against.

Others feel women with lower levels of testosterone will have little chance in middle-distance races if the IAAF loses its case.

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