DStv Channel 403 Thursday, 26 December 2024

Athletics SA welcomes Semenya ruling

JOHANNESBURG - Athletics South Africa has welcomed the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights on double Olympic champion Caster Semenya.

On Tuesday, the Court said the double 800m Olympic champion has been a victim of discrimination.

South African Semenya, who is classed as having "differences in sexual development", has refused to take testosterone-lowering medication as mandated by the sport's international federation, World Athletics, if she wants to compete at her favoured distance.

READ: SA's Semenya wins appeal at European rights court

Semenya lost in an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Switzerland's appeals court subsequently confirmed the decision of sport's top court.

She brought the case against Switzerland as part of her long-running legal battle.

The ruling is likely to force a re-examination of testosterone regulations.

Semenya won Olympic gold in London in 2012 and again in Rio four years later and the hope is that she will again be a contender at next year's Paris Olympic Games.

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