South Africa’s Olympic champion Caster Semenya is speaking out against the International Olympic Committee after the organization announced its decision to ban trans women from taking part in major competitions. Semenya expressed her thoughts at a press conference that was held in Cape Town after a race that promotes female strength and community unity.
Semenya was assigned female at birth. However, tests showed that she has higher testosterone levels than the average female. After winning two gold medals in the 800 meters, Semenya was banned from running in best event at the Olympics and world championships. Although she had a chance to take medication to lower her hormone levels, Semenya refused, per ESPN.
What did Caster Semenya say about the IOC’s decision to ban trans athletes?
In her statement at the press conference, Semenya specifically called out IOC president Kirsty Coventry, who is from Zimbabwe.
“Personally, for her as a leader, she’s an African, I’m sure she understands how, you know, we as Africans, we are coming from, as a global South, you know, you cannot control genetics,” Semenya said, according to ESPN. “For me personally, for her being a woman coming from Africa, knowing how, you know, African women or women in the global South are affected by that.”
Semenya also refuted the critics who claim to have scientific evidence to justify the IOC’s ruling against trans women.
“Obviously if you say the science, because we talk about science here, if the science is clear, show us who decided and don’t dress that as a lie because it’s a lie and we know because we’ve seen it, so if we were to answer or confront Kirsty, that’s how we going to respond, and we’ll respond strong as we are because it affects women,” she said.
IOC’s decision to ban trans athletes from major competitions
In a 10-page policy document released on Thursday, the IOC put restrictions against female athletes who shows differences in sex development, also known as DSD.
Per the IOC, the policy will apply for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The governing body said its goal is to “protect fairness, safety and integrity in the female category.”
While the policy affects major competitions, grassroots or recreational programs will not be impacted.
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