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The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights will hear the case involving middle-distance runner Caster Semenya on Wednesday before a final ruling.<\/b><\/p>\n
Semenya, 32, was born with differences of sexual development (DSD) and cannot compete in female track events without taking testosterone-reducing drugs.<\/p>\n
The South African believes World Athletics is showing discrimination against athletes with her condition.<\/p>\n
Last July, the ECHR ruled in favour of Semenya<\/a> in a case related to testosterone levels in female athletes.<\/p>\n The case at the ECHR was not against sporting bodies or DSD rules – but specifically against the government of Switzerland for not protecting Semenya’s rights and dates back to a Swiss Supreme Court ruling three years ago.<\/p>\n The Swiss government requested the matter be referred to the court’s Grand Chamber.<\/p>\n The ECHR Grand Chamber, external<\/span><\/a> is convened in exceptional cases and comprises 17 judges with its verdicts not open to appeal.<\/p>\n As the case concerns the Swiss government and not athletics’ governing body, it is unlikely the decision will immediately affect the current restrictions on DSD athletes.<\/p>\n World Athletics rules restrict testosterone levels in female runners competing in track events from 400m up to the mile.<\/p>\n Semenya, and other athletes with DSD who have testosterone levels above the approved level, cannot compete in female track events without taking testosterone-reducing medication.<\/p>\n