Dylan Bettencourt
South African Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya has labelled African athletics leaders as “cowards” for their responses to eligibility issues.
The three-time world champion is not permitted to compete in her preferred 800m event due to the World Athletics differences of sexual development (DSD) rules created in 2019.
Athletes shown to have high testosterone are required to take medication to lower their levels in order to compete in events between 400m and 1,500m.
“I think that, in this day, we have coward leaders,” Semenya said.
“In this continent, people are quiet. I don’t know why they’re quiet. They’re not fighting for their own athletes.”
The 31-year-old said the leaders are not doing enough to ensure Africans are able to compete freely at any event.
“You have got to show up and work, fight for your athletes, and then African athletics will be great. At this moment it’s disappointing,” Semenya said.
Semenya has been fighting against the DSD rulings for several years.
She took her case to the Court of Arbitration in 2019, and lost. She then lost an appeal and was also turned down at Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court.
The South African kept fighting and has taken the case to the European Court of Human Rights, which is yet to be heard.
“We are never going to stop fighting,” Semenya added.
“At the moment it is not about me, it’s about the young kids that are coming up now that are going to face the same problem.”
Semenya is not the only African athlete impacted by the DSD rules.
Two Namibian teenagers – Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi – were forced to drop out of the Tokyo Olympics 400m race due to their elevated testosterone levels.
Burundi runner Francine Niyonsaba and Kenyan Margaret Wambui are also affected.
Semenya has attempted to keep competing, now in the 5,000m race, but her times were not up to par to gain a spot at this year’s World Championships.
“I’m learning. I’m still a beginner. I’m not going to compare myself with people who have been doing the 5,000m for over a decade. I’ve just started last year,” Semenya explained.
Image source: @TheGuardian
