South Africa’s two time Olympic champion Caster Semenya says she will continue to oppose a newly introduced gender testing policy by the International Olympic Committee, arguing it undermines women rights and dignity in sport.
The International Olympic Committee last week announced a framework that could standardize eligibility rules for female athletes across Olympic sports. The move follows years of inconsistent regulations and legal disputes involving athletes with Differences of Sexual Development.
Semenya, 35, has long been at the center of that debate. She previously challenged rules by World Athletics that restricted her participation in certain events due to naturally high testosterone levels.
She said she plans to continue speaking out until athletes are heard.
“We are going to be vocal about it and make noise until we are heard,” she said in remarks reported by Reuters.
Debate over fairness and athlete rights
The policy states that athletes with androgen sensitive XY Differences of Sexual Development may have advantages in events requiring strength, endurance or power. As a result, it proposes testing measures to determine eligibility in the female category.
But Semenya disputes that conclusion, saying there is no scientific basis to support claims of advantage.
“If you are going to be a great athlete, it is through hard work,” she said.
Differences of Sexual Development involve variations in genes, hormones or reproductive anatomy. Some athletes with these conditions are raised as female but have XY chromosomes and testosterone levels typically associated with males.
Under the new guidelines, athletes may undergo testing through saliva or cheek swabs. Additional screening could follow if the SRY gene linked to male biological development is detected.
Semenya said the policy raises broader concerns about how female athletes are treated and perceived.
“What this decision does, it undermines women. It undermines women dignity,” she said. “Women are not supposed to be questioned about their gender.”
She added that physical traits or hormone levels should not define eligibility, saying such characteristics are natural and cannot be controlled.
Semenya also criticized the consultation process, saying athletes directly affected by the policy were not meaningfully involved.
She referenced Kirsty Coventry, the first woman and first African to lead the International Olympic Committee, saying communication was limited.
“They sent us a letter the day they were going to publish,” she said. “If you are going to consult, consult with a genuine heart.”
The International Olympic Committee has said its goal is to balance fairness, safety and inclusion in elite competition. However, the policy is expected to face continued scrutiny from athletes, advocacy groups and legal experts.
Semenya won Olympic gold in the 800 meters at the 2012 and 2016 Games but has since been unable to compete in her signature event under previous regulations without medical intervention.
She said the fight is far from over, framing it as a broader issue affecting women in sport globally.
“It is about standing up and saying enough is enough,” she said.