Semenya hopes battle for equality is on home straight

SOUTH African athletics legend Caster Semenya remains determined to see her marathon battle against World Athletics (WA) — to secure equal rights for female athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD) — over the line.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The former Olympic and world 800m champion is still waiting for a verdict from the highest chamber of the European Court of Human Rights. It has been almost a year since deliberations began.

The challenge initially targeted World Athletics’ draconian rules that forced DSD athletes with elevated testosterone levels to take medication in order to be eligible to compete against other women.

Semenya, who has DSD but identifies as a woman, had hoped that a victory would allow her to compete again without limitations.

However, as the legal battle has dragged on, the former track star and current athletics coach has shifted her focus to securing the right for all athletes with DSD to compete unhindered.

She had previously won an earlier round at the ECHR, which ruled that she had been a victim of discrimination by the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).