Athletics SA looks forward to welcoming Caster Semenya back on the track

The European court’s decision announced on Tuesday, favoured the double 800m Olympic gold medallist in her legal battle against World Athletics.

The contentious issue at hand was a requirement imposed on Semenya to lower her testosterone levels in order to continue participating in her preferred 800m event.

Unfortunately, due to this ruling, Semenya was unable to compete in the World Championships held in the USA last year, as well as the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The restriction prevented her from participating in races ranging from 400m to 1500m, forcing her to compete in the 5000m, which is not her specialized event.  

ASA, expressing its support and issued a statement emphasizing that the decision of whether to return to the track rests entirely with Semenya, who hails from Limpopo.

“ASA is delighted to learn of the decision by the European Court of Human Rights set out in their press release today declaring that the decision to impose DSD regulation on Caster Semenya was discriminatory and in violation of her human rights. The ruling has vindicated ASA, who has all along contended that the regulations were ill-conceived, did not have a proper scientific basis and re highly discriminatory against elite female athletes with elevated testosterone levels, which did not give them an unfair advantage over their other female competitors,” reads the statement.

The court ruled in favour of her, acknowledging that she had experienced discrimination, and recognizing that her right to privacy and access to an effective remedy had been infringed upon. In a recent interview with SABC Sport, Semenya firmly expressed her refusal to be coerced into retirement.  

“I don’t need to retire from the track. I didn’t introduce myself when I came into the sport. That should be how you portray yourself in the history of sports. So, for me, running has always been my passion. I can never take a mic and say I am retiring,” said Semenya.  

Her partner Violet Raseboya also told SABC Sport that Semenya would not retire: “Caster will not retire that’s all I am willing to say. She is training and in good health,” said Raseboya.

Semenya has been keeping herself busy by coaching a group of athletes from her founding club Masai Athletics Clubs, which includes her brother Joel Semenya in Pretoria.

Whether Semenya will return to the track immediately, or wait for a suitable time frame remains to be seen.

ASA did not indicate if they would include her in the World Athletics Championships squad scheduled for Budapest, Hungary next month. Indications are that they will make further announcements after meeting the athlete.