Sprint Geezer,
I am far from an expert on CAS, but it is an international tribunal to settle disputes. It has binding arbitration agreements with the IOC and IAAF that have been upheld in courts in a number of international jurisdictions. It also has agreements w/ many national oranizing bodies, including the USATF. I believe courts in the US have refused to get involved or overturn some decisions, leaving them to the CAS to be resolved.
Mr. Obvious wrote:
Sprint Geezer wrote:To be eligible to vote, panel members must at a minimum have been exposed to at least one photo of the athlete in question. There would be no pre-approved photos, but each vote would have to be accompanied by at least one photo, to provide evidence that something relevant was considered.
Oh yeah, this is an absolutely horrible idea, to have it based on a photo. Can't see internal testes on a photo, just for instance. At least the current panel is made up of medical experts. I still don't have much confidence in the process, but it is better than this.
Yes here's a photo, as yet no one has been willing to assign a gender!
http://www.carolguze.com/images/Sex/Tfm.jpgI believe that the system that you described would not hold up to an appeal to CAS because it is arbitrary and not based on any actual standards. Such a system does not protect the right of the athlete. Courts, even courts of arbitration, generally want to see cases decided on stronger evidence then 'well, she looks like a man in her picture.' It is akin to deciding who is doping by taking a poll of the Letsrun message board--sometimes you might get the right result but sometimes you are going to get complete crap.
Ugh this article again. Noakes argues that it is acceptable for Semenya to run with women because he is not running 1:41. This was not his finest moment.
Mr. Obvious wrote:
hmmm really wrote:My own layperson's view is that Semenya's testosterone level offers her a considerable advantage over her fellow female competitors. What level of advantage? Not sure. She has just won an 800 in 2:02 - looking inefficient and being still far from being in top shape. She can and likely will run 1:52 or faster. This issue is not yet resolved, and won't be soon. There is a value to being open and direct here - something that has not yet been achieved.
What is Semenya's testosterone level?
There is also value in judging based on actual facts, not just rumors printed in the media.
And if she has AIS it doesn't matter much any way, that's the point!
