Athletics: Testosterone rules change for women

The IAAF has approved the adoption of new rules and regulations governing the eligibility of females with hyperandrogenism to take part in women's competition.

The IAAF Council's decision yesterday is the culmination of an 18-month-long review by an IAAF expert working group who have studied issues relating to the participation in athletics of female athletes with hyperandrogenism - excessive production of androgens (testosterone).

The new rules will come into force for all international competitions on 1 May.

Competition in athletics will continue to be divided into men's and women's competition. A female with hyperandrogenism who is recognised as a female in law will be eligible to compete in women's competition in athletics provided that she has androgen levels below the male range, or, if she has androgen levels within the male range she also has an androgen resistance, which means that she derives no competitive advantage from such levels.

The rules will aim to avoid a repeat of the row which engulfed 800 metre runner Caster Semenya.

The South African was sidelined as the IAAF looked into her high levels of testosterone but has since returned to competition.