The lawyers of double Olympic champion Caster Semenya have expressed their confidence as she prepares for a significant hearing regarding the requirement for her to lower her testosterone levels before competing as a female.
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, will conduct the hearing on Wednesday, with a final ruling expected at a later date.
In a statement released by her legal team, Semenya voiced hope that the court’s decision would uphold athletes’ human rights and encourage acceptance of diversity among young women. “I hope that the court’s decision will pave the way for all athletes’ human rights to be fiercely protected, for once and for all, and inspire all young women to be and accept themselves in all their diversity,” Semenya said.
Semenya, aged 33, has differences of sexual development (DSD), a rare condition where a person’s hormones, genes, and/or reproductive organs may exhibit a mix of male and female characteristics.
World Athletics barred her from female track events unless she took testosterone-reducing drugs, a decision Semenya views as discriminatory against athletes with her condition.
According to World Athletics, their DSD regulations are aimed at ensuring fair competition in the female category and are deemed necessary, reasonable, and proportionate.