US EditionHuman rights court rules Olympic champion runner Semenya did not get fair hearing in Switzerland
SWITZERLAND, JUL 10 – The European Court of Human Rights ruled 15-2 that Switzerland denied Semenya a fair hearing in her legal fight over testosterone rules affecting female athletes, awarding her €80,000 in costs.
- The European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday that Semenya's right to a fair hearing was violated by the Swiss court, remanding her case to Swiss authorities.
- The ruling stemmed from the Swiss Federal Supreme Court's insufficient rigorous review, which overlooked the mandatory CAS jurisdiction validated in 2019 and 2020.
- The European Court of Human Rights found a violation of Article 6, with a 15-2 vote, and ordered Switzerland to pay €80,000 for costs, citing insufficient judicial scrutiny of Semenya's case.
- The case returns to the Swiss federal court in Lausanne, with the ruling not overturning rules, and stakeholders watching for next steps, as Semenya’s legal fight continues.
- This ruling is a watershed for sports law, pressuring IOC and federations to reform DSD rules, says barrister Yasin Patel, after her rights violation findings.
200 Articles
200 Articles
Global: Caster Semenya’s Court Victory a Win for All Athletes
Click to expand Image South Africa's Caster Semenya (C), answers reporters with lawyers Gregory Nott (L) , and Shona Jolly KC after Semenya won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights on in her seven-year legal fight against track and field's sex eligibility rules Strasbourg, eastern France, July 10, 2025. © 2025 Antonin Utz/AP Photo (New York) – In a landmark case for athletes’ rights, Caster Semenya, the star South African runn…
Caster Semenya's sex eligibility battle has confounded sports for 16 years—and still isn't over
One of the most � complex current issues in sports � can be traced back to a track meet in Germany in 2009, when � an unknown 18-year-old from South Africa � blew away a field of the best female ...
South African Olympic champion Caster Semenya scores human rights court win
South African Olympic champion Caster Semenya notched a victory this week when Europe’s top human rights court ruled she was not given a fair hearing in her legal challenge against World Athletics eligibility rules that have barred her from competing since 2019.Semenya, who was born with differences of sex development (DSD), has been unable to compete under World Athletics rules that restrict testosterone levels for female track and field events…
Daily Journal
Caster Semenya's sex eligibility battle has confounded sports for 16 years and still isn't over
The sex eligibility case of champion runner Caster Semenya has been one of the most contentious and most complex that sports has seen. Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion in the 800 meters, is banned from running in women’s competitions because…
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court violated Caster Semenya's right to a fair trial when she was denied an appeal in 2023 against World Athletics regulations that effectively banned her from competing.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
