Sebastian Coe warns against casting aspersions on athletes taking testosterone supplements

Durban: International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe on Monday warned against casting aspersions on athletes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that testing on female athletes taking testosterone suppressants be suspended.

Coe attended the final day of the African Athletics Championships in Durban Sunday, where South African star Caster Semenya completed a gold medal treble.

Semenya won the 1500m title two days before racing to victory in the 800m and anchoring the 4x400m relay team to first place.

“The CAS over a year or so ago looked at this issue, but we have a year in order to represent our case to the CAS,” Coe said.

“I don’t like to see any athlete in any discipline under sensitive situations being demonised, we are talking about human beings here.

“As the president of this federation, that is how I want to conduct these discussions.”

Some have recently related Semenya’s stellar performances – including the rare feat of winning the 400m, 800m and 1,500m at the South African Championships in April to last year’s CAS ruling.

“At the moment we are re-assessing the view that the CAS took – we will do this calmly and we will do it collectively,” Coe said.

“We’ll do it with the right diligence and the right approach and we will see where that gets to next year.”

Asked for her thoughts on the issue, Semenya said the ruling had no bearing on her.

“I don’t have time for that, I am an athlete. I focus more on the issues that concern me – training and performing,” Semenya said.

“Whatever is happening is not part of me so I cannot comment on those issues.