Caster Semenya is a South African middle-distance runner who has been at the center of controversy and media attention due to her naturally high levels of testosterone. In 2009, after winning the women's 800-meter world championship at the age of 18, questions were raised about her gender and she was subjected to gender testing by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
In 2011, the IAAF introduced new regulations that set a limit on the amount of naturally occurring testosterone a female athlete could have in her body. This policy, known as the Hyperandrogenism Regulations, affected Semenya and other female athletes with naturally high levels of testosterone.
Semenya challenged the regulations, arguing that they were discriminatory and violated her human rights. She won a legal battle against the IAAF in 2015, but the organization continued to appeal the decision. In 2019, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of the IAAF and upheld the regulations, stating that they were necessary to ensure fair competition.
The media has extensively covered Semenya's case, with many outlets criticizing the regulations and the treatment of Semenya. Some have argued that the rules unfairly target female athletes with intersex traits, while others have defended the regulations as necessary for fair competition. Overall, Semenya's case has sparked debates and discussions around gender and sports, and has brought attention to the challenges faced by intersex athletes in the sports world.