Stefanidi takes a swipe at IAAF rule change

Greek pole vaulter Katerina Stefanidi, the reigning World, Olympic and European champion, has suggested the IAAF trim her taller rivals’ arms and legs in their bid for equality, in a swipe at new rules on women’s testosterone for certain track events.

Stefanidi, the reigning World, Olympic and European champion, admitted to feeling sympathy for the likes of South Africa’s two-time Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya.

“They (the IAAF) want to create equality, whether that’s equality or not... and at which point do you stop? As some people mentioned on social media, I’m one of the shortest girls on the track right now.

“What are we going to do? Are we going to cut everyone’s legs or arms to make it equal because there’s definitely a correlation between height and pole vault?”

“If you’re going to have a rule like that then you maybe you should include all the events.

“I just find it bizarre in the way it’s only using a few events. If you make a decision like that, maybe include everything. If someone like that comes into the pole vault or high jump, are we going to add those events next year?”