Caster Semenya calls the European Court of Human Rights ruling in her favor ‘just the beginning’. The court ruled that the South African athlete was wrongly excluded from a number of competitions due to a controversial testosterone rule. The international athletics federation World Athletics was accused of discrimination in the ruling.
With a view to fair competition, the international athletics federation decided in 2018 that women with naturally high testosterone levels must take inhibitors in order to compete in distances from 400 meters to 1 English mile. Semenya refuses.
The athlete sued the global association at the International Court of Justice (CAS), but was unsuccessful. She was also unsuccessful in federal court. Due to the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where she received a narrow majority of four votes in favor and three against, she can start a lawsuit against World Athletics again.
The hard work I’ve put into becoming the athlete I am has been called into question.
“The hard work I’ve done to become the athlete that I am has been called into question,” said the South African. “My rights have been violated. It has impacted my career and caused so much damage; mentally, emotionally, physically and financially.”
“I am thrilled with the verdict,” she said. “It has been coming for a long time. I have always stood up against any discrimination in sport and will continue to do so. I have suffered much at the hands of those in charge and have been mistreated.”
Next month’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest seem to come too soon for Semenya. The South African athlete won gold twice in the 800 meters at the Olympic Games and became world champion three times in her favorite event.
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