I am unquestionably a woman – Caster Semenya

South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya today said she was “unquestionably a woman”, after the IAAF denied reports that it would argue that she should be classified as a biological male.

Semenya, 28, issued the statement ahead of a landmark hearing at the Court of Arbitration (CAS) next week that will challenge a proposed rule by the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) aiming to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.

“Ms Semenya is unquestionably a woman. She is a heroine and an inspiration to many around the world,” her lawyers said in a statement.

“She asks that she be respected and treated as any other athlete.”

Both sides stood firm on Thursday.

The IAAF continued to stave off widespread criticism this week, with media reports suggesting the global body was preparing to argue that Semenya and other DSD (differences of sexual development) athletes should be classified as ‘biological males’ who identified as females.

Denying the allegations, however, the IAAF insisted it did not expect DSD athletes to be classified as men, and they could compete against women provided they took testosterone suppressants.

“We accept their legal sex without question, and permit them to compete in the female category,” the IAAF said in a statement.

“However, if a DSD athlete has testes and male levels of testosterone, they get the same increases in bone and muscle size and strength and increases in haemoglobin that a male gets when they go through puberty, which is what gives men such a performance advantage over women.”

In response, Semenya’s legal team said it remained confident it could have CAS overturn its controversial decision to rubber stamp the IAAF’s gender rules.

“Women with differences in sexual development have genetic variations that are no different than other genetic variations that are celebrated in sport,” Semenya’s lawyers said.

“She asks that she be respected and treated as any other athlete.

“Her genetic gift should be celebrated, not discriminated against.”

Semenya and Athletics South Africa had approached the CAS late last year to challenge the IAAF’s new rules which restricted hyperandrogenic athletes from competing against women at international level in certain events.

The global athletics body had been accused of targeting Semenya after choosing to enforce the rule in distances ranging over 400m to the mile (1.60km), which were the same events in which the South African star had excelled in recent years.

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