PRETORIA – The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has reaffirmed its support for Caster Mokgadi Semenya as her case is heard in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in France. The case centers on whether the double Olympic champion must alter her testosterone levels to compete in athletics.
According to South African Government News Agency, Dr. Cynthia Khumalo, the department advocates for fairness and equality in sports, emphasizing that every athlete deserves the right to compete without facing discriminatory barriers. The hearing, set for Wednesday, May 15, 2024, follows a decision by the European Court in July 2023 involving the Swiss government, which will be re-evaluated by the Grand Chamber.
The government’s support for Semenya extends to collaborations with the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), Norton Rose Fulbright, Probono.org, and other stakeholders. The DSAC highlighted the discriminatory impact of the 2019 World Athletics regulations on athletes with Differences in Sex Development (DSD), which require such athletes to adjust their natural hormone levels to compete.
CGE Chairperson, Advocate Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale, has called for widespread support for Semenya, stating that a positive ruling would significantly affect the rights of athletes worldwide with similar conditions. The DSAC remains hopeful that the Grand Chamber’s judgment will align with the values of justice, inclusivity, and diversity that define the South African sporting sector.