Court docs show IAAF argued Caster Semenya was 'biologically male'
The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) contended in court that Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya is a “biologically male athlete with female gender identities.” That was the argument the organization made in February that led to Semenya getting banned from events unless she took hormone-suppressants, according to the Associated Press.
Court documents were released Tuesday which showed the tactics used by the IAAF to get the ban instituted. The 28-year-old Semenya said the IAAF’s argument “hurts more than I can put into words.” Semenya was assigned female at birth.
The IAAF initially won that ruling 2-1. It was later temporarily suspended by the Swiss Supreme Court. The IAAF has until June 25 to respond.
The 163-page court decision also revealed Semenya’s decade-long fight with the IAAF. In 2009, the organization sent a gynecologist to examine Semenya. She later realized she had undergone “a gender verification test.”
Prior to the 2009 World Championships, a newspaper wrote an article saying Semenya had both female and male organs. Semenya won the race, but called it the “most profound and humiliating experience of my life.”
After winning that event, Semenya had to undergo another “gender verification test.” She said she was ordered to do it by the IAAF, and had “no choice but to comply with” it.
Semenya did take hormone suppressants for a few years, but said they caused nausea, abdominal pain and weight gain. Those symptoms kept her from competing at a high level for years.
When the IAAF attempted to impose its ban early in 2019, Semenya said she had no interest in taking hormone suppressants again.
With the temporary suspension of that ruling, Semenya will compete in the 800-meter event June 30. She has dominated that event, winning gold medals in the 800-meter event at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
(Yahoo Sports Olympics H/N: NBCSports)
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
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