BHUBANESWAR 28-Mar-2015 49
Ace Odisha woman sprinter Dutee Chand`s turbulent career received a shot in the arm with the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowing her participation in international competitions till the final hearing on her appeal against International Amateur Athletics Federation`s hyperandrogenism policy.
According Odisha Athletic Association secretary Asirbad Behera, Dutee and a legal team, provided by the Sports Ministry attended the hearing, which took place in Lausanne, Switzerland from March 22 to 26. They argued that the ruling was discriminatory and flawed.
The hyperandrogenism policy bars female athletes having higher level of male hormones from competitions. ``It is a great victory for Dutee. I am sure, she will be cleared in the final hearing,’’ said Behera today.
The 19-year-old Chand was disqualified from competitions last year by the Athletics Federation of India as per IAAF`s hyperandrogenism policy after tests revealed that her body produced natural levels of testosterone above permissible range. She has a condition called hyperandrogenism and her body produces natural levels of testosterone so high that they place her in the male range in the eyes of international track and field.
Dutee won a gold medal in the 100m at the National Games in Kerala last month after she was allowed by CAS in its interim order to take part in national events pending a final decision. She was forced to miss the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games last year after failing the test but refused medical treatment to help make her eligible.
Her appeal is the first to challenge rules the IAAF introduced in the wake of the Caster Semenya affair in 2009. Dutee won a 200m bronze at 2013 Asian Championships in Pune and she is first Indian to reach a sprint final at the 2013 World Youth Championships, coming sixth in 11.62 seconds.
