In the last few hours a great controversy has been created over the participation of the boxer Imane Khelifwho defeated the Italian Natalia Carini at the 2024 Olympic Games. However, this This is not the first case of an athlete with high testosterone levels.
According to the criteria of
Caster Semenya is a South African athlete, who was a double Olympic medalist in the 800 meters in 2012 and 2016; however, the organization of the Olympic Games began to carry out gender tests and there it was determined that the athlete has the intersex condition 5-alpha reductase deficiency and natural testosterone levels in the typical male range.
Therefore, in 2019, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) asked athletes with this condition take medication to compete in track events from 400m to 1,600m.
Caster Semenya
Photo:
Share
The Olympic medallist called this act discriminatory and issued a statement: “For a decade, the IAAF tried to stop me, but this actually made me stronger. The CAS decision will not stop me.”
In 2023, Semenya spoke to the BBC about her case: “It doesn’t matter what differences you have. I’ve realised that I want to live my life and fight for what I think and believe in myself. I know I am a woman and everything that comes with it must be accepted”.
Caster Semenya
Photo:
Share
In July 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that World Athletics violated Caster Semenya’s rights.
The organization had banned the two-time champion from competing in the women’s category unless she could reduce the levels of testosterone that her body naturally produces through medical interventions.
Caster Semenya
Photo:
Share
However, the ruling did not change regulations that prevent Semenya and other athletes with high levels of testosterone in their bodies from competing at the sport’s highest level.
More news:
