Caster Semenya, the double 800m Olympic champion, achieved a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which ruled that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court violated her right to a fair hearing. This pertains to her 2023 appeal against World Athletics regulations that effectively bar her from competing due to her Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) and naturally high testosterone levels. The ECHR's Grand Chamber found the Swiss ruling lacked 'particular rigour' but did not rule on discrimination or private life aspects, meaning World Athletics' rules are not immediately affected.
Caster Semenya: South African double Olympic champion wins partial victory at European Court of Human Rights in her long legal battle over athletics' sex eligibility rules.
AthleticsOlympic Games
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Caster Semenya, the double 800m Olympic champion, achieved a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which ruled that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court violated her right to a fair hearing. This pertains to her 2023 appeal against World Athletics regulations that effectively bar her from competing due to her Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) and naturally high testosterone levels. The ECHR's Grand Chamber found the Swiss ruling lacked 'particular rigour' but did not rule on discrimination or private life aspects, meaning World Athletics' rules are not immediately affected.
Trending- 1 2009: Caster Semenya won her first World Championship gold.
- 2 2012: Semenya became Olympic champion over 800m.
- 3 2016: Semenya became Olympic champion over 800m.
- 4 2019: World Athletics brought in rules restricting testosterone levels for track events from 400m up to the mile.
- 5 2019 (May): Semenya sealed her 30th consecutive victory at the Doha Diamond League 800m.
- 6 2019: Semenya unsuccessfully challenged World Athletics' rules at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
- 7 2020: A Swiss Supreme Court ruling occurred, which was the subject of the ECHR case.
- 8 July 2023: The ECHR ruled in favor of Semenya in a case related to testosterone levels in female athletes.
- 9 2023: World Athletics rules were expanded to cover all female track and field events.
- 10 July 10, 2025 (Thursday): The ECHR's Grand Chamber ruled that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court violated Semenya's right to a fair hearing.
- Caster Semenya won a partial victory regarding her right to a fair hearing.
- Her case could now go back to the Swiss federal court.
- The ruling serves as a reminder to leaders that athletes need to be protected and their rights prioritized.
- The current World Athletics restrictions on DSD athletes are not immediately affected by this ruling.
- Semenya's focus has shifted from collecting medals to winning battles against authorities.
What: The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court violated Caster Semenya's right to a fair hearing in her appeal against World Athletics' sex eligibility rules.
When: Thursday (July 10, 2025); Semenya was Olympic champion in 2012 and 2016; World Athletics rules restricting testosterone levels were brought in 2019 and expanded in 2023; Semenya unsuccessfully challenged rules at CAS in 2019; ECHR ruled in favor of Semenya in a related case in July 2023; the case against Switzerland's government dates back to a Swiss Supreme Court ruling from 2020.
Where: Strasbourg, France (location of ECHR); Lausanne, Switzerland (location of Swiss Federal Supreme Court and CAS); Johannesburg, South Africa (where Semenya received a hero's welcome).
Why: Semenya believes World Athletics has shown discrimination against athletes with DSD by insisting they reduce testosterone levels. World Athletics insists its rules are needed to ensure fair competition and protect the female category. The ECHR found the Swiss ruling 'had not satisfied the requirement of particular rigour' under Article 6 (right to a fair hearing) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
How: The ECHR's Grand Chamber made the ruling after Switzerland's government requested the matter be referred to it. The Grand Chamber found a violation of Article 6 but deemed complaints under Articles 8, 13, and 14 inadmissible as they did not fall within Switzerland's jurisdiction. The ruling does not immediately affect World Athletics' current restrictions as it concerns the Swiss government, not the sporting body directly.