Semenya hits back at Coe’s comments on gender

Caster Semenya has accused Sebastian Coe of “opening old wounds” after his comments about the double Olympic champion in a newspaper article.

South African middle distance runner Semenya is challenging the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) bid to force her to take testosterone-lowering drugs.

IAAF president Lord Coe told the Australian Daily Telegraph last weekend: “The reason we have gender classification is because if you didn’t then no woman would ever win another title or another medal or break another record in our sport.”

Semenya hit back in a statement from her legal team which read: “The scars Ms Semenya has developed over the past decade run deep. She has endured and forged herself into a symbol of strength, hope and courage.

“Reading the comments of Mr Coe opened those old wounds and the reference by the Daily Telegraph (Australia) to ‘the muscle-packed Semenya’ is just the latest illustration of how the issues have been distorted by innuendo.”

A decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the landmark dispute over testosterone limits for female athletes has been postponed until next month.

The IAAF wants to set a limit on the amount of testosterone female athletes can have in their blood, forcing those with high levels to take medication to reduce their hormone levels closer to the normal female range.

“Ms Semenya does not wish to undergo medical intervention to change who she is and how she was born,” the statement added.

“Women with DSDS [disorders of sex development] are born with rare genetic differences. These differences should be celebrated in sports like all other genetic variations that make elite events worth watching.

“Ms Semenya hopes and dreams that one day she can run free of judgement, free of discrimination and in a world where she is accepted for who she is.”