This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya, 28, has announced that she will not defend her World Championship 800m title in September, following a setback in her challenge to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules restricting testosterone levels in female runners.
On July 31, 2019, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court overturned a ruling allowing Semenya to compete without medication, effectively preventing her from participating in the World Championships in Doha.
Semenya has twice appealed against the IAAF rules, which require athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) to take testosterone-reducing medication or change to another distance to compete in track events from 400m to the mile.
Despite her disappointment, Semenya remains committed to her fight for human rights, stating, “I am very disappointed to be kept from defending my hard-earned title. But this will not deter me from continuing my fight for the human rights of all of the female athletes concerned.”
The IAAF has rejected accusations that its regulations enforce gender inequality, arguing that the rule was introduced to protect the rights and opportunities of female athletes.
