Sprinter Dutee Chand wins right to compete

Bhubaneswar: Sprinter Dutee Chand from Odisha has been allowed by Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest court in sport, to participate in national and international meets for a period of two years.

Besides, the CAS yesterday suspended the regulations of International Association of Athletics Federations which make it ineligible for athletes with hyperandrogenism to compete in the female category.

The CAS also asked to provide scientific evidence that there is a link between enhanced performance and testosterone in hyperandrogenic athletes.

On July 18 last year, the Athletics Federation of India had removed Dutee’s name from the team for the Commonwealth Games after she was tested positive for hyperandrogenism. Afterwards, Dutee had knocked the doors of the CAS against the IAAF’s gender guidelines.

In her reaction, Dutee, 19, said she can now target to get qualified for the Rio Olympics in 2016. She added the verdict will allow similar athletes, who have been diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, to compete international events.

Notably, Dutee was allowed to compete in national-level competitions and Asian Athletics Championships in Wuhan in China after the CAS had granted her interim relief earlier this year.