New Delhi: Orissa sprinter Dutee Chand got the confirmation Saturday to take part in the World Championships after the top tribunal of international sports suspended the policy of the international athletics federation, which had barred her from competition, by another two months.
The 21-year-old Dutee, who missed the original entry standard of 11.26 seconds, got an invite from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as the target number of 56 athletes for the women’s 100m event was yet to be reached for the August 4-13 World Championships in London.
The IAAF sent Friday an invite to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), asking to reply in ‘yes or no’ about accepting the offer and the Indian body, after taking consent from Dutee, responded within the stipulated time.
AFI secretary C K Valson said: “Dutee has been cleared to take part in the World Championships. The 24-member Indian team have already left the country and Dutee will most likely leave alone for London in a direct flight.” He however, did not specify whether Nagapuri Ramesh, the personal coach of Dutee would make the trip.
Meanwhile, in her ‘gender case’ before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, the world’s top sports tribunal has suspended IAAF’s Hyperandrogenism Policy, under which the AFI suspended Dutee from competitions in 2014.
The top tribunal said Saturday that Dutee remains eligible to compete in national and international events.
Dutee’s future was under a cloud after the IAAF recently decided to submit fresh evidence at the CAS in support of its policy of barring female athletes who produced natural testosterone (male hormones) above permissible range from taking part in competitions.
“Based upon the agreement of the parties and at the approval of the panel, the Hyperandrogenism Regulations have been suspended for an additional two months. During such extended suspension, Ms Dutee Chand remains eligible to compete in both national and international level athletics events,” the CAS said in a statement.
