Athletics Semenya wants to become president of World Athletics

SDA

8.8.2024 - 11:01

Caster Semenya 2019 in Doha
Caster Semenya 2019 in Doha
Keystone

Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya wants to become President of the World Athletics Association. The next election is due in 2027.

Keystone-SDA

"I'm working on my candidacy for the presidency, I like to challenge people who don't care about athletes' rights," the 33-year-old South African told ARD. The once best 800-meter runner in the world has been fighting against the testosterone rules of the world federation for years.

The South African was supposed to take medication to reduce her high natural testosterone level below a certain threshold so that she would be eligible to compete. The legal dispute caused quite a stir. Semenya said that her candidacy was not about herself. "I understand the importance of sport. I understand that I have to put the athletes first," she said. "It should be about serving the athletes. It should be about protecting them. It should be about making sure all athletes are treated equally."

She was convinced that she could get enough support, Semenya said. Briton Sebastian Coe's third and final term as President of the World Athletics Federation ends in 2027.