Treatment of Semenya by IAAF does not seem right

THE EDITOR: The treatment meted out to two-time Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya of South Africa because of her testosterone level does not seem right.

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), the governing body for athletics, has won its battle through the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have Semenya reduce her testosterone level if she wants to continue competing as a woman. The reason cited is the difference in development.

Now, if the IAAF is talking about development in the natural state then this appears to be a contradiction because in the past officials of the Olympic Committee had stressed “natural talent” as compared to artificially enhanced performance through the use of any foreign substance that moves one from the natural state to the induced state, which lasts only for a short time.

However, Semenya did not enhance her performance with any induced substance but won with raw talent and “natural selection.”

For those of us who take an interest in wrestling, we would have heard Charlotte Flair, seven-time WWE women’s champion and daughter of Rick Flair, who held the men’s belt numerous times, talk about “natural selection.”

In human beings, just as in all other living creatures, there will be differences – mentally, emotionally, socially, psychologically, and indeed physically. We must accept that fact. Some will be better than others – in different ways.

Most great thinkers and geniuses would have been strong-minded but frail physically. Yet they were not challenged for just being smart.

To conclude, if Semenya is being challenged for her physical superiority then the likes of Serena Williams, a Grand Slam tennis champion many times over, and Nadia Comaneci, world renowned gymnast who was perfect in her Olympic performances with all 10s, will also have to face the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It opens up a can of worms.

WKS HOSEIN, Chaguanas