Government jumps to Caster’s defence
IT’S GAME ON: GOVERNMENT, ATHLETICS SA AND SASCOC BEHIND SEMENYA
Court hearing on difference of sexual development in Lausanne next week.
South Africa has rallied behind one of its most acclaimed athletes with government, Athletics SA (ASA) and the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) confirming their full support of middle-distance runner Caster Semenya on the eve of a controversial hearing on international gender rules.
Government launched the #NaturallySuperior campaign yesterday, aimed at roping in support for Semenya ahead of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland, next week.
The department of sport had compiled a legal team to appear before CAS in support of the case lodged by Semenya and ASA, who had appealed the court’s decision to approve new International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules late last year.
“Government, through the department of sport, has established a high-level panel consisting of the medical and legal workstreams who have prepared a formidable case,” the department said in a statement.
Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa labelled the new IAAF gender regulations as a gross violation of human rights.
“What is at stake here is far more than the right to participate in a sport,” Xasa said.
“Women’s bodies, their wellbeing, their ability to earn a livelihood, their very identity, their privacy and sense of safety and belonging in the world are being questioned.” Having also pitched in resources to bolster their legal team, ASA reiterated that the federation was fully backing Semenya in her off-track battle.
“ASA reaffirms its unqualified support for Caster Semenya and athletes who may be affected by the IAAF DSD [difference of sexual development] regulations,” the federation said.
Sascoc, meanwhile, confirmed its support for the world and Olympic 800m champion on so- cial media.
“Team SA is behind you and supporting you all the way in the upcoming IAAF Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing,” the Olympic body posted on Twitter.
Semenya and ASA had approached CAS last year to challenge the IAAF’s new rules which restricted hyperandrogenic athletes from competing against women at international level in certain events.
The global athletics body had been accused of targeting Semenya after choosing to enforce the rule in distances ranging over 400m to the mile (1 609m), which were the same events in which the South African star had excelled in recent years.
The CAS will hear evidence from Monday until Friday and a decision was expected to be announced by the end of next month.
ASA reaffirms its unqualified support for Caster Semenya