BHUBANESWAR 18-Dec-2014 74
Odisha woman sprinter Dutee Chand has been provisionally cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to compete in domestic events, pending a final decision. Dutee, in a first of its kind appeals in the Lausanne-based CAS, had challenged the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) rules on hyperandrogenism for female athletes.
The 18-year-old had been barred from competing after a Sports Authority of India (SAI) test found her to have elevated levels of male hormones. ``It is a relief. It is a great thing that Dutee will be able to compete at national events. But it is only a provisional ruling about which we got to know a few days ago. It is just that she will be able to compete pending the final decision,’’ a source close to Dutee said today.
``This will allow the legal process to run its course. We have a feeling the next hearing is unlikely to be there before spring 2015. So till that time she can participate in domestic events. As for international events, she will have to wait for the final decision by CAS.’’
With the off-season going on, the Odisha athlete’s participation in events could be limited. However, it has been learnt that she is eyeing to compete in the 62nd Odisha State Athletics Championship, scheduled to be held at Cuttack from December 28 and if she qualifies and CAS doesn’t come with its final ruling, then she could compete in the National Games in Kerala beginning January 31.
Dutee, who is currently employed with the Central Railway as a Traveling Ticket Examiner, had filed an appeal to CAS in September with the backing of Sports Authority of India, which also allowed her to train at the National Institute of Sports at Patiala.
