Sprinter Dutee Chand allowed to take part in 2015 National Games

Dutee Chand can take part in 2015 National Games

New Delhi, December 18 (IANS)

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has allowed Indian sprinter Dutee Chand to participate in national and state level events till a final verdict on her appeal against International Amateur Athletics Association's (IAAF) hyperandrogenism policy, which resulted in her ban, is reached, an official statement said on Thursday.

The interim order allows Dutee to participate in the upcoming National Games in Kerala from January 31^st to February 14^th, said the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in the statement.

"Sport celebrates human diversity, regardless of inherent natural characteristics. Such a policy is contrary to the spirit of sports. Only women athletes fall under these regulations and there is enough evidence that athletes from country like India are targeted and tested under this policy," SAI director general Jiji Thomson said.

"So this policy discrimination against women needs to be stop immediately."

Dutee was dropped from the Commonwealth Games contingent at the last minute after the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) stated that hyperandrogenism made her ineligible to compete as a female athlete.

Dutee was disqualified by the AFI as per IAAF's hyperandrogenism policy after tests revealed that her androgen levels were higher than normal.

She then appealed to CAS against her indefinite ban from competition.

IAAF's hyperandrogenism policy recommends that a woman athlete with hyperandrogenism may lower her androgen to a specified level with the help of hormone therapy or surgery and then compete as a woman.