This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
On Wednesday, Caster Semenya, the South African double Olympic champion, spoke out about the lack of support she has received from other women in sport. The athlete has been at the center of a long-standing dispute over her testosterone levels with athletics authorities.
Speaking at a women's conference in Johannesburg, Semenya said she had never felt supported by other women in sport, despite being a trailblazer in her field. The 28-year-old athlete will not be able to defend her 800-metres title at the world championships in September after the Swiss Federal Tribunal reversed a ruling that temporarily lifted testosterone regulations imposed on her.
"Since I have been in sport I have never really felt very supported, I've never felt recognised mostly by women," Semenya said during the conference. The athlete is appealing the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) ruling that supported regulations introduced by the sport's governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
The IAAF regulations state that XY chromosome athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) can race in distances from 400m to a mile only if they take medication to reach a reduced testosterone level. Despite receiving support from some current and former athletes, the decision has also attracted criticism from human rights organisations. The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution in support of Semenya in March.
"I think it comes more into the international stage when you see your own rivals come with this... what can I call it... these rude responses in terms of me competing against them," Semenya said. The athlete has faced backlash from some of her competitors, including British runner Lynsey Sharp, who received death threats for past comments she made about Semenya.
Despite the challenges she faces, Semenya remains committed to her sport and has not ruled out competing in longer distances or pursuing a career in another sport. "Whoever is going to stop me from running is going to have to drag me out of the track," Semenya said.
