S. Africa discontented with IAAF regulation on female testosterone

South Africa has showed dissatisfaction over the world athletics governing body IAAF's new regulations which require athletes with high testosterone to take medication.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) on Thursday said that this affects South Africa's athlete Caster Semenya whose "name is again being dragged through the publicity mill", reports Xinhua news agency.

Sascoc said they are concerned that the rights, confidentiality and privacy of athletes are being affected.

"We feel that as a sports movement we should be allowed to debate things in the right atmosphere and that the protection of athletes and their dignity and human rights are at the top of the agenda," said Sascoc President Gideon Sam.

Vowing to protect Semenya, Sam said that Semenya has never taken any performance enhancing activities and any enhanced testosterone levels are due solely to her genetic make up.

He added, "We understand the emotion around the IAAF's ruling, but we first need to conduct a detailed study into the ruling."

--IANS

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