Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2023

“All we ask is to be allowed to run free, for once and for all, as the strong and fearless women we are and have always been.” – Caster Semenya

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favour of two-time Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya’s appeal. Her appeal argued that she faced discrimination due to World Athletics’ rules that have barred her from competing since 2019.

World Athletics, the governing body that regulates international track and field competitions, decided to bar intersex women with naturally elevated testosterone levels from competing in the women’s category of track events over 400m. The testosterone limit has been referred to as the “Caster Semenya rule” – a reference to the South African Olympian and intersex woman Caster Semenya, who has been targeted by the World Athletics’ discriminatory rules and invasive “gender testing” since she was a teenager.

Semenya took her case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to argue that the regulations are based on gender and racial discrimination. In order to be allowed to compete, women athletes with naturally high testosterone levels must undergo “humiliating and invasive physical examinations followed by harmful and experimental medical procedures” designed to lower their testosterone levels. They also risk being outed as intersex.

Egale Canada has long been, and will continue to be a vocal supporter of intersex rights at home and around the world.

In 2019, Egale wrote an open letter opposing the ruling that prevented Semenya from competing. And in 2021, Egale applied to the ECHR for intervenor status in the case on Semenya’s behalf.

Egale stands with Caster Semenya and all those who fall within the spectrum of what it means to be intersex. We call on all governments to uphold the rights of women and 2SLGBTQI people by not adhering to the testosterone regulations put forward by World Athletics, and allowing all women to participate in professional sports.

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Representatives from Egale Canada are available for further comment on this matter. To schedule an interview please email: media@egale.ca.