Two-time Olympic and three-time world champion Caster Semenya has branded leaders in African athletics as “cowards” for failing to stand up and fight for female athletes who are facing eligibility issues. The 31-year-old is barred from competing in her preferred 800m race by World Athletics’ differences of sexual development (DSD) rules introduced in 2019. You have got to show up and work, fight for your athletes, and then African athletics will be great. At this moment it’s disappointing.”When asked by BBC Sport Africa about Semenya’s comments and whether African athletics leadership has done enough for its athletes, Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) president Malboum Kalkaba said: “Sorry, I do not have an answer”. Last week, World Athletics president Seb Coe hinted his organisation could follow swimming in banning transgender women from elite female competitions, insisting “fairness is non-negotiable”.

Source: The Star June 27, 2022 05:13 UTC