NOT GIVING UP Caster Semenya continues her fight against World Athletics' discriminatory female eligibility rules, aiming to empower young African athletes and challenge unfair policies. Picture: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Image: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Caster Semenya on Thursday vowed to keep fighting the updated female eligibility rules which World Athletics (WA) proposed in February.
World Athletics requires Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) to take testosterone-lowering medication in order to compete in the female category, which effectively brought a premature end to Semenya’s career.
The double Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 800m is 34, and therefore the legal battles which could take years mean she will never be able to compete at the highest level again.
Testament to the character of Semenya, she has taken the latest setback in her stride as she has promised to continue her campaign for women like her to compete freely.
“The fight still goes on. At the end of the day, remember I’m moving more into a leadership role,” Semenya told IOL in an exclusive interview in Sandton on Thursday, where she was named as a brand ambassador for OMO Stay Unbeatable Movement. The campaign 'celebrates everyday resilience and encourages South Africans to rise above life’s daily challenges'.
“As I see it, African leaders are failing to fight for their own athletes. I'll take a stand for that. I'll go make a difference and make sure that young African athletes, particularly the global South, are well respected. Are well protected, and then we still have to remind IAAF that they need to follow through safeguarding and ruling.”
Having endured cruel gender tests back in 2009 as an 18-year-old, the crusader for women’s rights has made it her goal to ensure no athletes would have to go through the same hardships in the future.
“Unless there is a safeguarding ruling, you will make such a mess. You will not go out there and promote discriminatory policies.
“You will go out there and make sure that athletes are protected. Their rights have been taken seriously. So we are having big issues when it comes to that.”
Semenya went on to say the current ruling was tantamount to racism and discriminatory.
“To remind such organisations that we say no to racism and discriminatory policies.
“We don't promote that, and we say it's necessary not to discriminate against anyone. So those are the things that we need to remind the IOC and the World Athletics to say no. You have to go back and revisit your policy-making, so it favours athletes. Not targeting people because of their born difference.”
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