Caster Semenya: It disappoints to see how weak we are as Africans and Asians
17th December 2023
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South African two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya has expressed her dissatisfaction with World Athletics, condemning what she perceived as unjust treatment.
Semenya successfully appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to contest potential infringements on her rights over the regulation of high testosterone levels in female athletes.
In an exclusive interview with SABC Sport, the 32-year-old has accused the global athletics organisation of racial bias, lamenting that such policies hinder the aspirations of a young girl from rural villages across Africa.
"Winning an appeal also shows you that there are people out there that realise athletes are being robbed, [so] we need to do what is right for athletes, we need to protect athletes," Semenya told SABC Sport.
"So, for me, it's a path that we can see there's something moving and there are possibilities of us reaching where we want to be.
"There's positivity, the case is ongoing, we're waiting for the high court, especially because they appealed the Swiss, so it's gone to a high chamber [ECHR Grand Chamber], which will probably be next year [2024], I don't know.
"But, for me, it's an opportunity to portray great leadership, especially in terms of protecting young African and Asian women to make sure they are well protected in the sport."
Jermila Kratochvilova of the Czech Republic, world record holder in the women’s 800m with a time of 1:53:28 she achieved in 1983, maintained elevated testosterone levels, yet she was never barred by World Athletics from participating in the sport.
Semenya contends that Kratochvilova, now 72 years old, was permitted to compete based on the colour of her skin.
"It shows you that a situation like this is sexist, racism, discriminatory, and of course it affects the young African girl, young African women, young Asian women," she added.
"And it disappoints to see how weak we are as Africans and Asians not to confront situations like this that affect our own kids.
"It comes to my mind to say, 'Are we really ready to take ownership of our land, our own kids, to make sure we fight for and protect them? Or are we going to go back out there?'"
