A look back at Caster Semenya's struggle with World Athletics as DSD rules in focus at Paris Olympics

Record ID: 1832013

  • Title: A look back at Caster Semenya's struggle with World Athletics as DSD rules in focus at Paris Olympics
  • Date: 2nd August 2024
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - AUGUST 14, 2012) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** DOUBLE OLYMPIC 800-METRES TRACK CHAMPION CASTER SEMENYA AND TEAM SOUTH AFRICA ARRIVE AT AIRPORT AFTER 2012 OLYMPICS SEMENYA HUGGED BY HER GRANDMOTHER PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - OCTOBER 24, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SEMENYA WALKING ON THE RACE TRACK VARIOUS OF SEMENYA STANDING AND LOOKING AHEAD VARIOUS OF SEMENYA'S BOOK ON THE FLOOR / TITLE: “THE RACE TO BE MYSELF” (SOUNDBITE)(English) DOUBLE OLYMPIC 800-METRES TRACK CHAMPION, CASTER SEMENYA, SAYING: "My last chance to win at the Olympics was in 2016 so Paris Olympics is not really my goal, my goal is more on winning my battles against the authorities, it's me fighting for what is right." GERMISTON, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - APRIL 25, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SEMENYA (275) AFTER RUNNING AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - OCTOBER 24, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE)(English) DOUBLE OLYMPIC 800-METRES TRACK CHAMPION, CASTER SEMENYA, SAYING: "It is no longer about me fighting to compete, it is about fighting for what is right. Fighting for the upcoming generation, because there are a lot of kids that are affected by the same ruling. So for me like I said, this battle will not finish now we will fight until the end." JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - JULY 7, 2010) (REUTERS) SEMENYA TRAINING SHORTLY AFTER BEING TOLD SHE CAN RETURN TO ATHLETICS PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - OCTOBER 24, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOUBLE OLYMPIC 800-METRES TRACK CHAMPION, CASTER SEMENYA, SAYING: "Running, I have achieved everything I ever wanted. They have never stopped me from being the great athlete I am." LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (FILE - FEBRUARY 18, 2019) (REUTERS) SEMENYA ARRIVING AT COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) WITH HER LAWYERS AND REPRESENTATIVES PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - OCTOBER 24, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOUBLE OLYMPIC 800-METRES TRACK CHAMPION, CASTER SEMENYA, SAYING: "It targets only Africans and Asians because those are the only athletes that are affected by this situation. The question that you will raise as a woman and you would say, is this in the best interest of women’s sport, or in the best interests of certain women?" GERMISTON, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - APRIL 25, 2019) (REUTERS) SEMENYA WITH FELLOW OLYMPIC CHAMPION WAYDE VAN NIEKERK
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2024 17:08
  • Keywords: ATHLETICS CASTER SEMENYA COMPETITION GENDER PARIS OLYMPICS SEXUALITY SPORTS
  • Location: VARIOUS
  • City: VARIOUS
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Africa,Athletics,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001399602082024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A look back at South Africa's double Olympic 800-metres track champion Caster Semenya's struggles with World Athletics as DSD rules are in focus at the Paris Olympics.
    The presence at the Paris Olympics of two boxers who were disqualified from last year's world champion­ships has revived the discussion over whether athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) should compete in women's competition.
    This follows Italian boxer Angela Carini who pulled out of the Paris Olympics on Thursday (August 1) after she sustained a series of crunching blows from her Algerian opponent Imane Khelif, who last year failed a gender eligibility test at the World Championships.
    Khelif, whose participation in the Games was permitted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and had divided boxers, landed multiple punches in the first 30 seconds before a powerful right to Carini’s nose prompted the Italian to raise her hand and return to her corner.
    Semenya has unwittingly been at the centre of this issue for more than a decade.
    Over the past couple of years, the governing bodies of athletics, cycling, swimming and rugby union have been tightening their regulations to exclude those with the advantage of going through male puberty from some or all women's competition.
    Semenya has not been allowed to compete in any distance between 400m and the mile since 2018 unless she maintains lower testosterone levels, which requires medication.
    She appeared at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in May to continue her challenge against World Athletics. The case is still being considered.
    DSD is a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs. Some people with DSD are raised as female but have XY sex chromosomes and blood testosterone levels in the male range.
    (Sisipho Skweyiya)
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