Sports Committee welcomes European Court of Human Rights Ruling on Caster

11 July 2023

The Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture has noted with appreciation the successful appeal by South Africa’s ace-middle distance runner, Ms Caster Semenya on Tuesday.

The European Court of Human Rights upheld Ms Semenya’s appeal thereby vindicating the committee’s long held view about the unfairness and inhumane nature Caster was treated by the world governing athletics body.

The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Beauty Dlulane, said she was so excited for Caster, and other women athletes who could have been subjected to similar treatment, without recourse, had it not been the success of the appeal.

“The committee is really excited by the announcement in the morning, and it never doubted the correctness of its position regarding Caster. She has missed out on several opportunities,” said Ms Dlulane.

Caster had in 2021 appealed to the European Court following a set of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) regulations aimed at lowering testosterone levels in hyperandrogenic athletes. Female athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) would be forced to medicate to reduce their testosterone levels if the so-called new regulations had been implemented.

Ms Dlulane said the unfairness of it all is that there can never be recourse to correct the IAAF error given the number of competitions she missed.

“It would have been a sad day if international bodies entrusted with responsibility to foster international competition and inclusiveness, had succeeded in preserving a form of alienation where one could legitimately hide behind unscientific rules and guidelines.”

“There could not have been a way to explain implementation of these rules other than as a deliberate ploy targeting Ms Semenya. Luckily someone else agreed and saw the unfairness of it all,” emphasised Ms Dlulane.

Issued by Sibongile Maputi, Media Officer, Parliamentary Communication Services, 12 July 2023