Reflections on the ECtHR judgment in the Caster Semenya case

Abstract

In July 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of professional South African Olympic Gold medallist Caster Semenya in a case against Switzerland. The case is a result of the legal battle the athlete has been fighting against World Athletics, the international federation of the sport of athletics, for issuing eligibility rules that would have forced her to take medication to lower her testosterone levels to be allowed to compete in the 800m run. This case note discusses the possible implications of this judgment for the broader sport and human rights movement.