South African athlete Caster Semenya criticizes Olympic gender testing rules

South African Sprinter Caster Semenya Expresses Disappointment Over IOC’s New Policy

Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 800-meter event, has expressed her disappointment and frustration with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to reinstate gender verification tests for female athletes. The new policy, which will be implemented at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, requires only “biological females” to compete in women’s events.

Semenya stated that she believes this policy is a disrespect to women and causes harm, particularly to hyperandrogenic athletes like herself. She also expressed disappointment that the measure was taken under the leadership of new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who hails from Zimbabwe.

The IOC has explained that the policy is based on science and has been led by medical experts. The tests will be conducted through a saliva sample, cheek swab, or blood sample once in an athlete’s lifetime. Semenya had previously spoken out against chromosomal sex testing, which was used by the IOC from 1968 to 1999 before being abandoned due to concerns over its effectiveness.

Semenya has been at the forefront of a long-standing battle for hyperandrogenic athletes’ rights, which began in 2009 when she won her first world title in the 800m. In 2025, she won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights, with the court’s highest chamber ruling that some of her rights to a fair hearing had been violated.

The IOC’s new policy removes a potential source of conflict between the organization and US President Donald Trump, who has issued an executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.

Source: Al Jazeera