Semenya stirs fiery debate
The sports world is divided, as South African runner Caster Semenya faces an IAAF in a hearing that could define the rest of her career, and Namibia is no different.
The long-time standoff between Olympic champion Caster Semenya and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) over the issues of gender, hormones and performance reached a pivotal phase this week, as a tribunal began hosting a five-day hearing in a case that could have massive repercussions.
The hearing has now divided public opinion with some showing the athlete sympathy, while others say she should just do as the IAAF says.
The IAAF has proposed eligibility rules for athletes with hyperandrogenism, a medical condition in which women may have excessive levels of male hormones such as testosterone.
The new regulations will force them to lower their testosterone levels to a prescribed amount, if they wish to continue competing, in order to promote 'fair competition'.
Semenya, however, wants to overturn these rules in an appeal case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) president Abner Xoagub sided with IAAF's request, saying it is only trying to push for fair play.
“Semenya has an advantage over other athletes. She has more testosterone. The World Anti-Doping organisation demands that we always test our athletes. If they are caught doping or if we see that one has a high level of testosterone we are instructed to disqualify the athlete from competitions.
“Now we find an athlete like Semenya who naturally has high testosterone levels, but we allow her to compete, what message does that send to the rest? Then we might as well allow those doping to continue to do so then,” Xoagub argued.
“The IAAF is not banning the athlete or trying to end her career, but is engaging with her so that she can compete on the same level as the rest because she has an advantage. These athletes also train hard. If Semenya is fit, bringing her testosterone down will not stop her from winning.”
Xoagub said further that there is no alternative route for the IAAF and if there was, they would have used it, so Semenya should agree to the terms and promote fair competition.
Erwin Naimhwaka, president of Athletics Namibia, said they are following the case and support all the athletics and family groups involved in the case.
“The case deals with fundamental issues of the sanctity of competition in athletics and human rights. The experts on the teams will highlight those issues and the arbitrators will make their ruling based on that. We await the ruling, which we are expect to adhere to, whatever the outcome, whether it results in change or the upholding of the proposed regulation,” said Naimhwaka.
South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa has backed the athlete.
“Mokgadi. Champion. Beacon of hope. My daughter, this is only to remind you of your greatness; because you constantly remind us that nothing beats the enduring power of the human spirit. You may run alone on the track, but know now that you run with 57 million and more,” he tweeted.
Semenya is not the only athlete potentially affected by this.
Silver and bronze medallists in the Rio 800m women's race, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya's Margaret Wambui, have also faced questions about their testosterone levels.
But it is Semenya, who is at her peak with three world titles to her name, who has brought the court challenge.
More support
Tennis icon Billie Jean King has joined the wave of support for the double 800m Olympic champion.
King took to Twitter to defend and back Semenya, writing: “My friend Caster Semenya is unequivocally female. Forcing women with naturally high testosterone to give up ownership of their bodies and take drugs to compete in sport is barbaric, dangerous, and discriminatory. I stand behind her and hope she prevails.”
Last year in October, Semenya received the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award from the Women's Sports Foundation and King in New York.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
The hearing has now divided public opinion with some showing the athlete sympathy, while others say she should just do as the IAAF says.
The IAAF has proposed eligibility rules for athletes with hyperandrogenism, a medical condition in which women may have excessive levels of male hormones such as testosterone.
The new regulations will force them to lower their testosterone levels to a prescribed amount, if they wish to continue competing, in order to promote 'fair competition'.
Semenya, however, wants to overturn these rules in an appeal case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) president Abner Xoagub sided with IAAF's request, saying it is only trying to push for fair play.
“Semenya has an advantage over other athletes. She has more testosterone. The World Anti-Doping organisation demands that we always test our athletes. If they are caught doping or if we see that one has a high level of testosterone we are instructed to disqualify the athlete from competitions.
“Now we find an athlete like Semenya who naturally has high testosterone levels, but we allow her to compete, what message does that send to the rest? Then we might as well allow those doping to continue to do so then,” Xoagub argued.
“The IAAF is not banning the athlete or trying to end her career, but is engaging with her so that she can compete on the same level as the rest because she has an advantage. These athletes also train hard. If Semenya is fit, bringing her testosterone down will not stop her from winning.”
Xoagub said further that there is no alternative route for the IAAF and if there was, they would have used it, so Semenya should agree to the terms and promote fair competition.
Erwin Naimhwaka, president of Athletics Namibia, said they are following the case and support all the athletics and family groups involved in the case.
“The case deals with fundamental issues of the sanctity of competition in athletics and human rights. The experts on the teams will highlight those issues and the arbitrators will make their ruling based on that. We await the ruling, which we are expect to adhere to, whatever the outcome, whether it results in change or the upholding of the proposed regulation,” said Naimhwaka.
South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa has backed the athlete.
“Mokgadi. Champion. Beacon of hope. My daughter, this is only to remind you of your greatness; because you constantly remind us that nothing beats the enduring power of the human spirit. You may run alone on the track, but know now that you run with 57 million and more,” he tweeted.
Semenya is not the only athlete potentially affected by this.
Silver and bronze medallists in the Rio 800m women's race, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya's Margaret Wambui, have also faced questions about their testosterone levels.
But it is Semenya, who is at her peak with three world titles to her name, who has brought the court challenge.
More support
Tennis icon Billie Jean King has joined the wave of support for the double 800m Olympic champion.
King took to Twitter to defend and back Semenya, writing: “My friend Caster Semenya is unequivocally female. Forcing women with naturally high testosterone to give up ownership of their bodies and take drugs to compete in sport is barbaric, dangerous, and discriminatory. I stand behind her and hope she prevails.”
Last year in October, Semenya received the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award from the Women's Sports Foundation and King in New York.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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