Sport minister briefs media on Semenya, IAAF

South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya on Thursday 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.”

The rules would force so-called “hyperandrogenic” athletes or those with “differences of sexual development” (DSD) to keep testosterone levels below a prescribed amount.

The rules were to have been instituted in November 2018 but have been put on ice pending next week’s hearings.

Supported by the South