She was only 18 when she first charged across the finish line at the 2009 world track and field championships in Berlin, winning first place. 

But for Caster Semenya, the road (or track) has never been smooth. She was a historic star, breaking records with her gold medal wins at two consecutiveOne after the other. Olympics.

In 2009, regulators who were sceptical of her pace demanded that Semenya do a test to prove that she was female. The test revealed that Semenya has differences in sex development (DSD), a condition which gives her higher-than-usual testosteroneThe hormone that causes people to develop male sexual characteristics. Women also produce some testosterone. levels, despite the fact that she has always identified, and been identified, as a woman.

In 2018, new regulations were introduced. Athletes with DSD were only permitted to compete in some track events under the condition that they lowered their testosterone levels. The possible side effects of this include cardiovascularRelating to the heart and blood vessels. problems, fatigue, muscle and bone issues, blood clots and mood swings.

But Semenya legally challenged these rules, saying the side effects were negatively damaging her health and that she should have the right to compete as herself.

Her battle with the authorities has been going on for years. In 2021, Semenya filed an appeal with the ECHRThe European Court of Human Rights. It was set up in 1959. . They ruled in her favour this month, agreeing that the competition rules do amount to an infringementAn action that breaks a rule or someone's rights. of her human rights.

But her battle is not over yet. The ECHR ruled in Semenya's favour against the Swiss government, and not against the sporting body World Athletics. This means that it will not do anything to change the current restrictions against her.

It is an issue which divides many. On the one hand, sport has always been a balance of hard work and genetic gifts. A tall basketballer will almost always outplay a short one. Genetics have a huge influence on cardiac capacity, strength, muscle size, lung capacity, flexibility and even endurance.

But on the other hand, trials have shown that boosting testosterone levels significantly improves the performance of female athletes when all other factors are kept the same.

It is a divisive issue. Such decisions by the global body do not only affect women with DSD and intersexPeople born with both female and male reproductive anatomy. traits, but also female transgender athletes, who some believe should not be allowed to compete in women's sports. And as of yet, nobody has found a solution that is fair for everybody.

Yes: Even if Semenya was born with a genetic advantage, so are many athletes who are still allowed to compete. It is inhumane to ask her to take a potentially dangerous hormone-suppressing treatment without medical cause just to allow her to run.

No: Unfortunately for Semenya, the fact that she was born with DSD means that she does have a measurable advantage against other female competitors. It may not be fair for her, but it would be unfair on all the other women runners to let her compete against them.

Or... We need to do more research on how raised testosterone levels affect performance in different sports - whether it is comparable to genetic gifts like height, flexibility and cardiac capacity.