Women groups dismiss Coe's gender rule defence
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday November 9, 2018 11:55
Coe was in the country on Saturday and Sunday, and defended IAAF’s decision to come up with a rule meant to limit the amount of testosterone in female athletes.
Coe said the decision is based on analysis of samples taken from 2,127 elite male and female athletes from the 2011 and 2013 World Championships.
IAAF concludes high testosterone levels give a “significant competitive advantage” in the 400m, 400m hurdles, 800m, hammer throw, and pole vault events in particular. During a media briefing in Gaborone on Sunday, Coe said the issue has been looked into, and needs sensible regulation.
“It is not an attack on gender or a particular athlete or continent. Those athletes with that condition have to be regulated so that they continue to compete. We also have a responsibility of other athletes. It is about levelling the playing field,” he said.
A member of Women Sport Africa Network, Ntambi Ravele told Mmegi Sport that it is clear that Coe does not know how to deal with the issue. She wondered who was putting IAAF president under pressure.
“It is obvious that IAAF have no respect for human rights issues. This eligibility criteria is totally discriminatory. It is against international human rights standards and IAAF cannot be a law to themselves. This regulation does not respect women physical and bodily integrity,” Ravele said.
She said it was high time that human rights organisations organise themselves to boycott all IAAF programmes until such time that they respect human rights.
Ravele said they must mobilise governments and sponsors not to fund IAAF events. International Working Group On Women and Sport board member, Game Mothibi said Coe’s explanation was not enough. “So you take from someone to give the other? And why target something that occurred naturally,” Mothibi wondered.