Regarding the Namibia Government's involvement in contesting the ruling, Tjongarero stated that a committee comprised of representatives from the Athletics Namibia (AN) and Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) had been established in the past.
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Agnes Tjongarero, the Namibia’s minister of sport, has expressed dissatisfaction with World Athletics over a new rule. The rule is set to disqualify Christine Mboma, who won silver in the 200 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Beatrice Masilingi, who finished fourth. On Thursday, March 23, the sport’s governing body, World Athletics, declared that female athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD). This results in high naturally occurring levels of testosterone and will have to lower their blood testosterone to below 2.5 nanomoles per liter which is half of the previously accepted level of five nanomoles – for at least 24 months.
Before March 31, only events lasting between 400 meters and a mile were subject to testosterone restriction. However, starting on that date, all events will be covered. A temporary rule states that athletes competing in events outside the previously restricted range must suppress their testosterone levels below 2 points 5 nmol/L for at least six months before the competition.
The World Athletics Championships in Budapest which are scheduled to take place from August 19 to 27 this summer, and would apply to Mboma. But she would not have enough time to complete the requirement. Masilingi, a fellow countrywoman who came in fourth behind Mboma in the Olympic standings in Tokyo in 2020, is in a similar circumstance. Caster Semenya of South Africa, a two-time 800 m Olympic and world champion, and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, who finished second to Semenya in the Rio 2016 800 m final are two other athletes impacted by the new DSD regulations.
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Given that athletes are gearing up for notable events like the World Championships and the Paris 2024 Olympics, Agnes Tjongarero claimed that the timing of the decision was unfair. He thinks that even if the girls use those remedies to lower their testosterone levels. It will have negative long-term effects on their bodies, and they won’t be able to run forever. Regarding the Namibia Government’s involvement in contesting the ruling, Tjongarero stated that a committee comprised of representatives from the Athletics Namibia (AN) and Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) had been established in the past.
Namibian sports minister, Tjongarero continued, “We established a committee with members from the NNOC and AN backed by us. Which have lawyers and doctors, to fight the decision when they announced it before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The issue is that we are supposed to avoid taking on these issues because doing so would be seen as government meddling.” Coach Henk Botha of Mboma admitted to BBC Sport Africa that getting it unexpectedly once more came as a bit of a shock. However, our team is upbeat and will collaborate with a medical team to help Christine get back on track as soon as possible. He has faith in her abilities and sees this as a challenge that can be overcome.
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