The lawyer representing South African champion Caster Semenya said she was “disappointed” with World Athletics’ response to her client’s “historic” victory at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday .
“Obviously, it’s a historic victory for Caster (Semenya), but more broadly for the sports people. And the reason for that is the people so far. “It is a gift from the sports federations and organizations like World Athletics to say, we decide whether human rights apply to you or not.
The ECHR ruled that Semenya was discriminated against by athletics rules that required her to have medically reduced levels of natural hormones in order to compete in major competitions.
Reacting to the court’s decision, World Athletics said the controversial regulations “will remain in place”.
“The European Court (on human rights, editor’s note) said it was unacceptable. It is unacceptable that the entire group of people in this body, professional athletes, simply excluded from the protection of the convention .
Professional athletes like Caster have the right to a proper review and analysis of their fundamental rights. In this case, the violation of his rights is Articles 8 and 14, or in other words, his right not to be discriminated against. His privacy.
His right to a working life. His right to a personal life. All of those rights are fundamental, and she deserves due consideration. They are not from World Athletics. They have not been approved by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
And they are not by the Swiss Federal Court. The court found that to be impossible. This can no longer happen.
There is no longer a human rights vacuum for professional athletes,” the lawyer concluded.
Since 2019 Semenya was prohibited from participating in her favorite 800 meter race because she refuses to artificially suppress her testosterone. She lost 4 years of her career at its peak.
