Australian coach says Caster Semenya will win 800m without even trying
South Africa's Caster Semenya is the favorite to win gold in the women's 800m at the Rio Games.
If you ask Australian Nic Bideau, she'll do it without even putting in any real effort.
The controversial runner, who has intersex conditions, has faced questions over her place in the sport since she broke onto the track scene in 2009.
She faced gender testing from international track's governing body, the IAAF, after winning the world championship that year. The tests reportedly showed that she had no womb or ovaries, but had undescended testes that greatly increased the natural testosterone in her body.
The IAAF ruled afterward that those with hyperandrogenism -- the condition that boosts testosterone naturally -- would have to take medication to lower their testosterone in order to compete against women.
That notion was challenged by an Indian sprinter Dutee Chand before the Court for Arbitration in Sport and overruled in 2015, clearing the way for intersex athletes to compete in international events without having to moderate their testosterone output.
Which brings us back to Bideau, who sounded off to the Melbourne Herald-Sun:
“When you’re watching it, clearly it’s not a fair competition but the rules say it is fair,” Bideau said.
“It’s ridiculous but that’s the rules, what can you do about it? It’s not her fault, it’s just unfortunate.
Semenya, who served as South Africa's flagbearer in the 2012 London Olympics, has won every major 800m race she's entered since the ruling and ran the fastest time anyone has run in the last seven years just last month.
You can watch her easily win that race below:
Joanna Harper, a sports gender expert and consultant to the IAAF who supports testosterone limiting measures, says she expects that 5 to 10 track and field athletes at the Rio Olympics will be intersex.
The IAAF has until July 2017 to try to provide compelling evidence to convince the CAS to reinstate the rule, clearing the way for those athletes to compete in Rio.
