Stop abusing Caster, says BSA’s Ravele

THE SA Women and Sport Foundation (SAWASF) is irked by what founder and president Muditambi Ravele yesterday termed as an abuse of the country’s wonder girl Caster Semenya.

This after Justine Fedroni of France failed to advance from the Rio Games 800m heats that Semenya won.

Fedroni was quoted as saying “... [Semenya] is just trying to train and compete just like the rest of us so that is really not fair to her. But it is not fair for others too.”

Ravele, who also chairs Boxing SA, said that they were annoyed by Fedroni’s comment.

“We are an organisation which promotes equal access, opportunities and support for women and girls.

“We cannot fold our arms and allow people to abuse Caster. I wonder if the person who started this controversy had qualified to be in finals, she would have been bothered at all about Caster’s participation.”

Ravele added: “Naysayers may say all they like, but there is one indisputable fact – Caster is a woman and no amount of postulating or conjecture can change that fact.

“This noise comes at a time when SAWASF and Sascoc [SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committeee] will host a two-day conference in Pretoria this weekend.”

Ravele said they would “deliberate on, inter alia, transformation in sport, enhancing participation through creativity and innovation, perusing excellence in leadership, management, marketing and sponsorship.

“The conference is to act as a catalyst for women and girls to reflect on their roles and responsibilities as active participants in all areas of sport.”

She said 1996 Atlanta Olympics gold medallist Penny Henys will be guest speaker.