AFI welcomes CAS decision on Dutee Chand, says happy for her

New Delhi: Athletics Federation of India on Tuesday welcomed the Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling which allowed sprinter Dutee Chand to resume her career on an appeal challenging the IAAF's controversial Hyperandrogenism Regulations, saying that it was a happy for sprinter.

AFI President Adille Sumariwalla said that he was happy for young Dutee and wished her well for future.

"I am very happy about the decision. I am also happy for Dutee because she can now resume her career," Sumariwalla told PTI.

"Myself being an athlete, I can understand the difficulties she must have faced during last year when this case was going on. Now she has been allowed to take part in national and international events. I wish her well," he said.

In an interim award, a three-member panel of the CAS yesterday partially upheld Chand's appeal challenging the validity of the IAAF's Hyperandrogenism Regulations and allowed her to resume her career.

The 19-year-old Dutee was disqualified last year by the AFI as per IAAF's Hyperandrogenism Regulations which bar female athletes whose bodies produce natural levels of testosterone above permissible range.

Sumariwalla said that the AFI had to bar Dutee from women's competitions as it was bound to act as per IAAF rules.

"We had to follow IAAF rules or otherwise we will be suspended. What could have we done? Rules are rules and now that these rules have been questioned by the CAS. It is for the IAAF to decide what to do and we will do according to what they (IAAF) say. We are bound to follow the IAAF," said the Olympian sprinter.

"Dutee was allowed to train at the NIS Patiala during this case and we supported it. When we were asked by the CAS if we have any issues if she is allowed to take part in the Asian Championships (in China in June), we said we have no problems. It's for the IAAF which is the main party concerned here and we are not much at the scene," he added.