Caster Semenya Cleared to Compete
With South Africa in a World Cup frenzy, little has been said about the future of South African middle distance runner Caster Semenya, 19, who was cleared on Tuesday to compete as a woman nearly a year after controversial gender tests halted her career.
Semenya has not run competitively since undergoing tests at the Berlin World Championships in August.
“I am thrilled to enter the global athletics arena once again and look forward to competing with all the disputes behind me,” Semenya said in a statement released by her lawyers.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said recently that it accepts the findings of an expert medical panel.
“The IAAF accepts the conclusion of a panel of medical experts that she can compete with immediate effect,” the sport ruling body said in a statement. Lawyers acting on her behalf said that the decision came after a “landmark settlement” between the IAAF and the athlete.
Greg Nott, Semenya’s lawyer, said details of the settlement would remain confidential.
“Our direct negotiations with the IAAF representatives, through the mediator, have been ongoing for 10 months. Meetings have been held in Monaco, Istanbul and Paris, but due to the nature of the matter the parties resolved to keep the negotiations confidential.”
Semenya’s return to competitive sports was delayed after an event in Zaragoza, Spain was cancelled in May.
Richard Stander of Athletics South Africa (ASA) said his organization could not immediately comment. “We cannot comment now because we have just been made aware of the decision.”
Previously ASA was clear about the fact that Semenya was not banned from the competition, but that in order to compete she must wait for the results of her tests from the IAAF.
The star athlete rose to prominence with her domination of the 800m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics with a time of 1:55.45 in the final. She was awarded a gold medal for the event and was hailed as a national hero in Africa. Almost immediately after the victory Australian media claimed she had both male and female s*x organs, which caused outrage in Africa and led various officials to rally behind her.
The case inspired dialogue on what qualifies for gender in sports, and well as debate on human rights’ issues. Some argued Semenya was suffering a grand human rights’ injustice, while others demanded testing.
It is unclear if the runner underwent any medical procedures during the lay-off that would allow her to continue to run as a woman, or what the conditions of the settlement are.
Semenya’s father said his daughter told him Tuesday that she would be cleared to return to athletics. He responded that he was happy and waited for official word.
"She told me she doesn't have any problems and she is happy," Jacob Semenya said.
In September, Wilfred Daniels, Semenya's coach with Athletics South Africa, resigned because he felt that ASA "did not advise Ms. Semenya properly". He apologised for personally having failed to protect her.
The news of her testing comes belatedly, as last month South Africa’s Minister of Sport Makhenkesi Stofile abruptly cancelled a news conference in which an announcement was expected.
Semenya's lawyers said they were told about the conference, but that it had been called off because the IAAF's executive committee had not received a "formal briefing" on Semenya's case by medical officials.
"We are delighted that Caster is finally being permitted to compete with other women, as is her legal and natural right," said Jeffrey Kessler, Dewey and LeBoeuf's Global Litigation Chairman. "Hopefully, this resolution will set a precedent so that no female athlete in the future will have to experience the long delays and public scrutiny which Caster has been forced to endure."
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