NEW DELHI: Indian sprinter Dutee Chand said Tuesday she was “super excited” about returning to athletics after a landmark ruling on the validity of so-called gender tests.

Chand’s hyperandrogenism — a condition that produces high testosterone levels — meant she fell foul of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules on gender.

But in a ruling on Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended the controversial regulation for two years, allowing her to compete again.

The CAS also said the rule would be scrapped permanently if the IAAF failed to prove that enhanced testosterone levels led to improved performance in hyperandrogenic athletes.

“I am very happy and relieved,” India’s reigning under-18 100 metres champion told AFP by telephone from Hyderabad.

“I have gone through a lot of suffering and humiliation. Now I want to start afresh,” said Chand, now 19.

Chand, who missed the Commonwealth and Asian Games due to the ban imposed last year, had challenged the rule, which she said did not take into account athletes who were “born this way”.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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