Share

Caster saga: Professor protests by quitting IAAF role

Cape Town - Steve Cornelius, a law professor from the University of Pretoria, has resigned from his position on the disciplinary tribunal of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

It follows the IAAF's latest regulations regarding female athletes’ testosterone levels.

Under rules announced last Thursday, the IAAF introduced a separate female classification for an athlete with differences of sexual development.

Such athletes, including South Africa’s Caster Semenya, will have to reduce and then maintain their testosterone levels to no greater than 5nmol/L by November 1, 2018 if they want to compete in events ranging from 400m to a mile.

READ: New testosterone rules would see Semenya finish last

In his resignation letter, Cornelius says he cannot continue to associate himself with an organisation that “insists on ostracising certain individuals, all of them female, for no other reason being than what they were born to be”.

He added that the adoption of new regulations for female classification is based on the same ideology that’s led to some of the “worst injustices and atrocities in the history of our planet”.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2243 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE