South African runner Caster Semenya will have to wait until the end of April to get a verdict in her challenge of IAAF rules seeking to control naturally high testosterone levels in female athletes.
The delay announced Thursday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to allow more legal debate creates confusion for Semenya and other runners affected by the proposed rules who are preparing for the world championships in September.
The court had last month set a target of next Tuesday for a verdict — six months and one day before Semenya is due to begin defending her 800-meter title at the worlds in Doha.
The IAAF’s intended rules require female runners to medically control their natural testosterone for at least six months before running in top-tier middle-distance races.