Paris (AFP)

From the explosion of the South African Caster Semenya at the Berlin Worlds in 2009 to the validation of the IAAF regulations by the Swiss courts, the right to compete for hyperandrogenic athletes represents 10 years of media, scientific and legal battles.

- 2009: the Semenya revelation -

At the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August 2009, a young intersex 18-year-old South African, with muscular build, hit the headlines.

Unknown a year earlier, Caster Semenya, hyperandrogenic, therefore in excess of male sex hormones, is the favorite of the 800m after a dazzling chronometric progression.

The International Athletics Federation (IAAF) announces a few hours before the final that it is investigating the athlete's gender.

Semenya wins the title, then South African President Jacob Zuma denounces the IAAF's attitude "a humiliation".

Banned from competition for 11 months, the time of "femininity tests" remained secret, experienced as a trauma by the young woman, Semenya was again authorized to run in July 2010.

- 2011: a first regulation -

In May 2011, the IAAF put in place a first regulation for the participation of hyperandrogenic athletes in women's competitions and set a testosterone threshold of 10 nanomoles / liter of blood.

Semenya, who must undergo treatment to be able to run, is once again crowned world champion in 2011, then Olympic champion in 2012 (2nd in the row she benefits from the downgrading of Russian Mariya Savinova for doping), before a long slump .

In July 2015, seized by the Indian sprinter Dutee Chand, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended the IAAF regulations.

The TAS gives the organization two years to present a scientific study proving the superiority of hyperandrogenic athletes.

Released from her treatment, Semenya was crowned Olympic champion in August 2016 in Rio, then world champion a year later in London.

- 2017: the IAAF insists -

In July 2017, the British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study commissioned by the IAAF which shows that women with the highest testosterone levels derive a "significant" advantage from it in several disciplines.

In April 2018, the IAAF introduced a new regulation, which requires "hyperandrogenic" women with "differences in sexual development" (DSD) to lower, with medication, their testosterone level below 5 nmol / L for take part in the international events of the 400 m to the mile (1609 m).

The IAAF insists on the imperative "to preserve equal opportunities in athletics competitions".

- 2019/2020: CAS then Swiss justice dismisses Semenya -

In June 2018, Semenya seized the CAS, supported in particular by the South African Minister of Sports, Tokozile Xasa.

In February 2019, a battle of experts began during the hearings.

The IAAF stands by its position thanks to its study, the conclusions of which are disputed in particular by scientists from the University of Bath (England).

In March, the UN pinpoints the IAAF regulations which "may not be compatible with international human rights standards and rules".

On May 1, 2019, the CAS announced that it had rejected the South African's appeal but asked the IAAF to amend its regulations, concerned about several contentious aspects.

The regulations come into force on May 8, 2019. To challenge the CAS decision, Semenya lodges an appeal on May 29 before the Swiss Supreme Court, which temporarily suspends the regulations for two months, until the end of July only.

This prevents the South African from defending her world title in Doha (September 27-October 6).

In March 2020, Semenya announced his desire to qualify for the Tokyo Games, postponed to 2021, but over 200 m, a distance not concerned by the regulations.

On September 8, 2020, the Swiss Supreme Court rejected Semenya's appeal, which assures us that she "will continue to fight for the rights of female athletes, on and off the track."

© 2020 AFP