UN rights council blasts IAAF over testosterone rules

GENEVA: The UN Human Rights Council has condemned the IAAF’s attempt to regulate the testosterone levels of female athletes, as nations unanimously backed the cause of South African runner Caster Semenya.

In a rare intrusion in the world of sport, the United Nations’ top rights body has passed a resolution stating that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) may be in breach of "international human rights norms and standards".

The resolution called on governments to ensure that sports organisations "refrain fromenforcing policies and practices that force, coerce or otherwise pressure women athletes into undergoing humiliating and harmful medical procedures".

South Africa’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko, told AFP she was "pleasantly delighted" the resolution was adopted by acclamation.

"Caster is a woman," the ambassador added. "She cannot be told by anybody on the basis of ... dubious scientific evidence that she is not a woman." The IAAF is looking to force "hyperandrogenic" athletes to seek treatment to lower their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount if they wish to continue competing as women.