Semenya’s right to a fair hearing violated – ECHR

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that the rights of South African athlete Caster Semenya were violated in her battle against World Athletics’ testosterone regulations.

Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion in the women’s 800 meters, has been fighting against regulations that require certain female athletes to lower their natural testosterone levels in order to compete in certain events.

The ECHR found that Semenya did not receive a fair hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which upheld the regulations in 2019. The court ruled that the CAS did not properly consider the impact of the regulations on Semenya’s personal and private life.

Semenya has been a vocal critic of the regulations, arguing that they are discriminatory and violate her right to compete as a woman. The ECHR’s ruling has been widely seen as a victory for Semenya and other female athletes affected by the regulations.

The case has sparked a fierce debate over the rights of female athletes with naturally high testosterone levels and the need to maintain a level playing field in women’s sports.

The ECHR’s decision is likely to have far-reaching implications for the future of women’s athletics and the rights of athletes to compete on a level playing field.

Semenya has vowed to continue fighting against the regulations and to defend her right to compete as a woman on her own terms.

The ECHR’s ruling is a significant step forward in the ongoing battle for gender equality and the rights of female athletes to compete on an equal footing.

It remains to be seen how World Athletics will respond to the ECHR’s decision and what impact it will have on the future of the sport.