Latest news with #CourtOfArbitrationForSport
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Broken me into so many pieces' – Tennis star breaks silence on four-year ban and says her life has been ‘ripped away'
BRITISH tennis star Tara Moore has broken her silence on her four-year ban. The former British No 1 doubles player was handed the ban from tennis for doping earlier this month. 3 3 Moore, 32, originally received the ban in 2022 following positive tests for prohibited substances nandrolone and boldenone. She managed to get the ban lifted after 19 months, after an independent tribunal found that she "bore no fault or negligence", as it was argued she ingested the drugs in contaminated meat. However, her ban has since been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This decision was made after an appeal by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. The ban means that Moore will be unable to compete until at least the start of the 2028 season. This is because she has already served the first 19 months of the ban. Moore has now released her first statement since the decision to ban her. The ace has emotionally admitted that she is "broken" and claimed that the anti-doping system is "broken". JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS She wrote: "To be innocent and to have to prove that is an incredibly gruelling process. "Firstly, you're trying to figure out what these things are. Secondly, you are figuring out how and why these things got into your system. "If you are innocent, you don't just know straight away. You have to go through everything you've done and eliminate what it can't be, until you settle on something it most likely is. "Even then, you are presumed guilty and have to fight for your life against someone who has more money and resources than you. "The last three and a half years have broken me into so many pieces. "As my family and friends have scrambled to pick up the broken shards of me, they've glued me back together in the form of a different person. I have had my life as I knew it ripped away from me because the organisations and people in power failed to do what was right. Tara MooreX "I don't need a panel to tell me I'm innocent. I know the integrity I bring, and I know I am innocent. I believe everyone over the past couple of years can see how subjective this process is. "I have been the underdog. I have had my life as I knew it ripped away from me because the organisations and people in power failed to do what was right. "They may have taken my fight away on the court, yet my fight is not over, not for me or others like me. "The anti-doping system is broken. I am proof of this. We need to fix it. "Not for me as it's too late, but for future players who find themselves in this unfortunate situation. "I have so much more to say when the time is right." Moore has claimed that the banned substances were discovered in her urine sample after she ate pork and beef while in Colombia. 3 And CAS has insisted that Moore was not able to prove that the nandrolone was from the meat. A statement read: "After reviewing the scientific and legal evidence, the majority of the Cas panel considered that the player did not succeed in proving that the concentration of nandrolone in her sample was consistent with the ingestion of contaminated meat. "The panel concluded that Ms Moore failed to establish that the ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violation) was not intentional. "The appeal by the ITIA is therefore upheld and the decision rendered by the Independent Tribunal is set aside." Wimbledon and the US Open.
CNN
10-07-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Caster Semenya did not get a fair hearing in sex eligibility case, human rights court rules
Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday in her seven-year legal fight against track and field's sex eligibility rules. The court's 17-judge highest chamber said in a 15-2 vote that Semenya had some of her rights to a fair hearing violated at Switzerland's Supreme Court, where she had appealed against a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in favor of track's World Athletics. However, on the question of Semenya being discriminated against in Swiss courts, the European court in Strasbourg, France, did not pronounce — to the frustration of four of the 17 judges in a partial dissent to the majority view. Her case should now go back to the Swiss federal court in Lausanne. It will be watched closely by other sports which have passed or are reviewing their own rules on eligibility in women's events. Semenya later posted on social media a photo of herself in the court chamber with a message a three raised fists symbolizing her fight for justice. The original case between Semenya and track's governing body based in Monaco was about whether athletes like her — who have specific medical conditions, a typical male chromosome pattern and naturally high testosterone levels — should be allowed to compete freely in women's sports. Europe's top human rights court did not take up other aspects of the appeal filed by Semenya, who was in court Thursday to hear the judgment read. It awarded her 80,000 euros ($94,000) from the state of Switzerland 'in respect of costs and expenses.' The European court's ruling does not overturn the World Athletics rules that effectively ended Semenya's career running the 800 meters after she won two Olympic and three world titles since emerging on the global stage as a teenager in 2009. The key legal point in Semenya's win was that the Swiss Federal Court had not carried out a 'rigorous judicial review' that was required because Semenya had no choice but to pursue her case through the CAS's 'mandatory and exclusive jurisdiction.' the Strasbourg judges ruled. Governing bodies of sports oblige athletes and national federations to take their disputes to the sports court in the International Olympic Committee's home city Lausanne. 'The court considered, however, that the Federal Supreme Court's review had fallen short of that requirement,' it said in a statement. In dismissing other elements of the South African runner's case, including if she had been discriminated against, the court judged it 'did not fall within Switzerland's jurisdiction in respect of those complaints.' World Athletics, led by its president Sebastian Coe, has said its rules maintain fairness because Semenya has an unfair, male-like athletic advantage from her higher testosterone. Semenya argues her testosterone is a genetic gift. World Athletics and CAS did not immediately respond to the ruling. The IOC declined to comment on a case it is not directly involved in. Thursday's win followed a legal victory from the same court two years ago for Semenya. That judgment which said she had faced discrimination opened a way for the Swiss supreme court to reconsider its decision to dismiss her appeal against the CAS verdict in favor of World Athletics. At CAS in 2019, three judges ruled 2-1 that discrimination against Semenya was 'necessary, reasonable and proportionate' to maintain fairness in women's track events. World Athletics drew up its rules in 2018 forcing Semenya and other female athletes with Differences in Sex Development to suppress their testosterone to be eligible for international women's events. Four of the 17 judges filed a partial dissent to the majority opinion, arguing their court should have been able to pronounce on 'substantive conclusions' reached by the CAS that went against Semenya. World Athletics eligibility rules 'specifically targeted the applicant, since they concerned only the events in which she competed — indeed, the fact that they amounted to a kind of 'lex Semenya' clearly demonstrates the arbitrariness of those regulations as a whole,' the four judges wrote. 'We are disappointed that her expectations have not been met,' said the dissenting judges, who included the chamber president, Marko Bošnjak from Slovenia. Semenya last competed internationally in the 800 in 2019, winning at the Prefontaine Classic meeting on the Diamond League circuit in Eugene, Oregon. It extended her winning streak to more than 30 consecutive races when the rules made her ineligible. Her winning time then of 1 minute 55.70 seconds was faster than the gold medal-winning time at the 2024 Paris Olympics but not the 1:55.21 run by Athing Mu of the United States at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. Semenya returned to Eugene in 2022 to race in the world championships over 5,000 but did not advance from the heats. She is now 34 and has moved into coaching. She said recently her ongoing legal fight is about a principle rather than her own running career.
National Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Human rights court rules Olympic champion Caster Semenya did not get fair hearing in sex eligibility case
Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday in her seven-year legal fight against track and field's sex eligibility rules. Article content The court's 17-judge highest chamber said in a 15-2 vote that Semenya had some of her rights to a fair hearing violated at Switzerland's Supreme Court, where she had appealed against a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in favor of track's World Athletics. Article content Article content Article content Her case should now go back to the Swiss federal court in Lausanne — to be watched closely by other sports which have passed or are reviewing their own rules on eligibility in women's events. Article content The original case between Semenya and track's governing body based in Monaco was about whether athletes like her — who have specific medical conditions, a typical male chromosome pattern and naturally high testosterone levels — should be allowed to compete freely in women's sports. Article content Europe's top human rights court in Strasbourg, France, dismissed other aspects of the appeal filed by Semenya, who was in court Thursday to hear the judgment read. It awarded her 80,000 euros ($94,000) from the state of Switzerland 'in respect of costs and expenses.' Article content The European court's ruling does not overturn the World Athletics rules that effectively ended Semenya's career running the 800 meters after she won two Olympic and three world titles since emerging on the global stage as a teenager in 2009. Article content Article content Swiss court's lack of rigor Article content The key legal point in Semenya's win was the Swiss Federal Court had not carried out a 'rigorous judicial review' that was required because Semenya had no choice but to pursue her case through the CAS's 'mandatory and exclusive jurisdiction.' the Strasbourg judges ruled. Article content Governing bodies of sports oblige athletes and national federations to take their disputes to the sports court in the International Olympic Committee's home city Lausanne. Article content 'The court considered, however, that the Federal Supreme Court's review had fallen short of that requirement,' it said in a statement. Article content In dismissing other elements of the South African runner's case, including if she had been discriminated against, the court judged it 'did not fall within Switzerland's jurisdiction in respect of those complaints.' Article content World Athletics, led by its president Sebastian Coe, has said its rules maintain fairness because Semenya has an unfair, male-like athletic advantage from her higher testosterone. Semenya argues her testosterone is a genetic gift.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Athlete Caster Semenya wins human rights fight over sex eligibility
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that track and field athlete Caster Semenya 's right to a fair hearing was violated by the Swiss judicial system. Semenya has been unable to compete in the 800-metre event since 2019 due to World Athletics ' rules on testosterone levels for female athletes, as she naturally produces higher levels. The 34-year-old was unsuccessful in challenging the rules at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Swiss federal court. The ECHR's judges found by a 15 to two majority that the Swiss courts had "fallen short" in providing a sufficiently rigorous judicial review of her complaint. The ruling means the case should now return to the Swiss federal court. World Athletics, not a party to the ECHR proceedings, maintains its rules are necessary for fair competition and has recently introduced stricter biological sex tests for female categories.
CBC
10-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Human rights court rules Olympic champion Semenya did not get fair hearing in sex eligibility case
Social Sharing Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday in her seven-year legal fight against track and field's sex eligibility rules. The court's 17-judge highest chamber said in a 15-2 vote that Semenya had some of her rights to a fair hearing violated at Switzerland's Supreme Court, where she had appealed against a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in favour of track's World Athletics. Her case should now go back to the Swiss federal court in Lausanne — to be watched closely by other sports which have passed or are reviewing their own rules on eligibility in women's events. The original case between Semenya and track's governing body based in Monaco was about whether athletes like her — who have specific medical conditions, a typical male chromosome pattern and naturally high testosterone levels — should be allowed to compete freely in women's sports. Europe's top human rights court in Strasbourg, France, dismissed other aspects of the appeal filed by Semenya, who was in court Thursday to hear the judgment read. It awarded her 80,000 euros ($127,000 Cdn) "in respect of costs and expenses." The European court's ruling does not overturn the World Athletics rules that effectively ended Semenya's career running the 800 metres after she won two Olympic and three world titles since emerging on the global stage as a teenager in 2009. The key legal point in Semenya's win was the Swiss Federal Court had not carried out a "rigourous judicial review" that was required because Semenya had no choice but to pursue her case through the CAS's "mandatory and exclusive jurisdiction." the Strasbourg judges ruled. Governing bodies of sports oblige athletes and national federations to take their disputes to the sports court in the International Olympic Committee's home city Lausanne. "The court considered, however, that the Federal Supreme Court's review had fallen short of that requirement," it said in a statement. In dismissing other elements of the South African runner's case, the court judged she "did not fall within Switzerland's jurisdiction in respect of those complaints." World Athletics, led by its president Sebastian Coe, has said its rules maintain fairness because Semenya has an unfair, male-like athletic advantage from her higher testosterone. Semenya argues her testosterone is a genetic gift. World Athletics and the IOC did not immediately respond to the ruling. Thursday's win followed a legal victory from the same court two years ago for Semenya. That judgment which said she had faced discrimination opened a way for the Swiss supreme court to reconsider its decision to dismiss her appeal against the CAS verdict in favor of World Athletics. At CAS in 2019, three judges ruled 2-1 that discrimination against Semenya was "necessary, reasonable and proportionate" to maintain fairness in women's track events. World Athletics drew up its rules in 2018 forcing Semenya and other female athletes with Differences in Sex Development to suppress their testosterone to be eligible for international women's events. Semenya last competed internationally in the 800 in 2019, winning at the Prefontaine Classic meeting on the Diamond League circuit in Eugene, Oregon. It extended her winning streak to more than 30 consecutive races when the rules made her ineligible. Her winning time then of 1 minute 55.70 seconds was faster than the gold medal-winning time at the 2024 Paris Olympics but not the 1:55.21 run by Athing Mu of the United States at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. Semenya returned to Eugene in 2022 to race in the world championships over 5,000 but did not advance from the heats. She is now 34 and has moved into coaching. She said recently her ongoing legal fight is no longer about a principle rather than her own running career.
