CAPE TOWN, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The newly introduced hyperandrogenism regulations by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) are "a gross violation of internationally accepted standards of human rights law," the South African government said on Friday.

This came one week before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hears a landmark case to determine the legality of the IAAF hyperandrogenism regulations.

The case pits Athletics South Africa and South African sportswoman Caster Semenya against the IAAF.

Last year, the IAAF announced the regulations which would determine eligibility classification of female athletes with hyperandrogenism to participate in the women's athletics categories and the conditions under which they would be allowed to compete.

Athletics South Africa and Semenya, who is the reigning world champion in the 400m and 800m track, are challenging the proposed rule by the IAAF that seeks to restrict the levels of testosterone in female athletes.

The South African government has a direct interest in the proceedings and outcome of this case, Minister of Sport & Recreation, Tokozile Xasa told reporters in Cape Town.

This interest is informed by South Africa's historical stance as a nation towards human rights, Xasa said.

The proposed regulations, if unchallenged, will have a negative impact on Semenya, said Xasa.

"Our history as a nation was in the main based on the defence of our people against their human rights violation, a right to belong, that all humans are created equal," the minister said.

What's at stake here is far more than the right to participate in a sport, she noted.

Women's bodies, their wellbeing, their ability to earn a livelihood, their very identity, their privacy and sense of safety and belonging in the world, are being questioned, Xasa explained.

The South African government suspects that the regulations specifically targets Semenya as they are only applicable to 400m to mile, including 400m, hurdle races, 800m and 1,500m, the categories wherein coincidentally Semenya participates and generally dominates, said Xasa.

The logic as to why the regulations were restricted to these categories is still unclear, thus drawing the South African government's suspicion, she said.

The IAAF insists that Semenya should be classified as a "biological male" and forced to take testosterone suppressants if she is to compete in women's competition.

According to Xasa, the regulations have drawn criticism from organizations and eminent individuals in various sectors including human rights, medical science, sport and sports law both in South Africa and abroad.

The critics have elevated a point that the regulations are discriminatory and violates fundamental and international human rights, including a right to physical and bodily integrity, the right to freedom from torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and harmful practices, Xasa said.

"As the South African government, we have added our voice in condemnation of these regulations mainly as a matter of principle as a country that respect and promote human rights and also in support of an application lodged by Athletic South Africa (ASA) at CAS challenging these regulations because they appear to be specifically targeting Caster Semenya," Xasa said. Enditem

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