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Attorney Gregory Nott says World Athletics’ decision to prohibit Semenya from competing in certain track events due to her high natural testosterone level is a “violation of human rights.”
A lawsuit filed by two-time South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya in the European Court of Human Rights challenging testosterone restrictions on female athletes is a “fight for all women,” her lawyer said.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Gregory Nott said Sunday that a decision by the athletics governing body prohibiting Semenya from competing in certain track events due to her naturally high testosterone is “a human rights violation.”
“This is Caster’s fight, but she believes it is a fight for all women who faced derogatory or damaging attacks on themselves,” she said, speaking from Johannesburg. “She sees it as a struggle for all women in a situation similar to hers.”
Earlier this week, the 30-year-old athlete took the case to the European Court of Human Rights to challenge the 2018 World Athletics rules that prohibited Semenya and other female athletes with differences in sexual development in races between 400 meters and one. mile unless they take hormone suppressing drugs, daily birth control pills, or have surgery.
Semenya was legally identified as a woman at birth and has been identified as a woman her entire life. She says her testosterone is simply a genetic gift.
Due to her refusal to reduce her natural testosterone, Semenya has been banned from running the 800m since 2019, when she was the dominant runner in the world for two laps.
“We have been surprised [the lack of emphathy and support from World Athletics] because, after all, she falls under the rubric of world athletics, ”Nott said.
“One could anticipate that they would support the athlete, particularly one like Caster, who is an iconic figure not just in her homeland but around the world.”
World Athletics has previously denied targeting Semenya.
This fight is not just about me, it is about taking a stand and fighting for the dignity, equality and human rights of women in sport. All we ask is to be able to run free like the strong and brave women that we are !! Thanks to everyone who supported me✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/0PdBiujH8b
– Caster Semenya (@ caster800m) February 25, 2021
Semenya has previously unsuccessfully challenged those rules in the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.
“I hope that the European court will put an end to the human rights violations committed by World Athletics long ago against female athletes,” Semenya said in a statement Thursday.
“All we ask is that we be allowed to run free, once and for all, as the strong and courageous women that we are and have always been,” she added.
No dates have yet been set for the hearing in the case.
Meanwhile, the athlete has yet to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
He had already decided to compete in the 200 meters even before the Olympics were postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We believe Caster will be seen at the Olympics, whether he runs the 200m or 1500m or whatever, but we believe Caster will execute on his schedule and his goals,” Nott said, describing the athlete as “an indomitable spirit.” .
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