Caster Semenya: Difference between revisions

Following Semenya's victory at the 2009 World Championships, she was made to undergo [[Sex verification in sports|sex testing]], and cleared to return to competition the following year.<ref name=ReturnTrack>{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hMudI8ByYmbiNVB4ofKjep_IT_kQD9GPJLSO0 |title=Semenya cleared to return to track immediately |access-date=6 July 2010 |agency=Associated Press |date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709190844/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hMudI8ByYmbiNVB4ofKjep_IT_kQD9GPJLSO0 |archive-date=9 July 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jul/06/caster-semenya-iaaf-clearance|title=Caster Semenya may return to track this month after IAAF clearance|access-date=6 July 2010|work=The Guardian|date=6 July 2010 | location=London | first=Anna | last=Kessel}}</ref> In 2019, new [[World Athletics]] rules came into force preventing athletes like Semenya with certain [[disorders of sex development]] (DSDs) from participating in [[400 metres|400m]], [[800 metres|800m]], and [[1500 metres|1500m]] events in the female classification, unless they take medication to suppress their naturally high testosterone levels. Semenya has filed a series of legal cases to restore her ability to compete in these events without testosterone suppression, arguing that the World Athletics rules are discriminatory.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-02 |title=Caster Semenya Opens Up About Discrimination Battle Against World Athletics |url=https://marathonhandbook.com/caster-semenya-discrimination/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Semenya was born in Ga-Masehlong, a village in South Africa near [[Polokwane]] (previously called Pietersburg), and grew up in the village of Fairlie, deep in South Africa's northern [[Limpopo]] province. She has three sisters and a brother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=204778766|title=Caster Semenya's present and future|last=Abrahamson|first=Alan|date=20 August 2009|publisher=[[Universal Sports]]|access-date=30 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823015132/http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=204778766|archive-date=23 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.omriyadat.com/african-athletics/athletics-olympic-hope-semenya-runs-fastest-400-metres-of-year|title=Athletics-Olympic hope Semenya runs fastest 400 metres of year|date=18 April 2016|access-date=6 September 2016|archive-date=13 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213115942/http://en.omriyadat.com/african-athletics/athletics-olympic-hope-semenya-runs-fastest-400-metres-of-year|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Semenya attended Nthema Secondary School and the [[University of North West]] as a [[sports science]] student.<ref name="Times">{{cite news |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article6802314.ece |title=Caster Semenya faces sex test before she can claim victory |work=[[The Times]]|date=19 August 2009 |access-date=20 August 2009 | location=London | first=Owen | last=Slot}}</ref><ref>Lucas, Ryan (22 August 2009). [http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10963679 SAfrican in gender flap gets gold for 800 win]{{dead link|date=September 2011}} ''www.wistv.com''. Associated Press.</ref> She began running as training for [[association football]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1057364|title=Hero Caster's road to gold|last=Prince |first=Chandre|date=29 August 2009|work=The Times|access-date=30 August 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> {{external media|width=210px|float=right|headerimage=|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-UX0LE_tCg "Too Fast to Be a Woman The Story of Caster Semenya"], Maxx Ginane|video2=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MqeoSxSy3w "Dorcas and Caster Semenya"], P&G|video3=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiCftTLUzCI "The problem with sex testing in sports"], [[Vox (website)|Vox]]}}

In November 2015, the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]] recommended Savinova and four other Russian athletes be given a lifetime ban for doping violations at the Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Owen|title=Russia accused of 'state-sponsored doping' as Wada calls for athletics ban|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/09/wada-iaaf-russia-dick-pound-banned|access-date=9 November 2015|work=The Guardian|date=9 November 2015}}</ref> On 10 February 2017, the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) officially disqualified Savinova's results backdated to July 2010. The [[International Olympic Committee]] reallocated the London 2012 medals, and Semenya's silver was upgraded to gold.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/38931007 |title=Mariya Savinova: Russian London 2012 gold medallist stripped of title |publisher=BBC |date=10 February 2017 |access-date=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/ioc-ready-to-strip-medals-from-russians-1.391476|title=IOC ready to strip medals from Russians|work=TSN|date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.olympic.org/london-2012/athletics/800m-women|title=London 2012 800m women – Olympic Athletics|date=6 September 2018|work=International Olympic Committee|access-date=23 November 2018|language=en}}</ref>

The IAAF policy on high natural levels of [[testosterone]] in women, that had been in place since 2011<ref>{{cite news |title=What is an intersex athlete? Explaining the case of Caster Semenya |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/29/what-is-an-intersex-athlete-explaining-the-case-of-caster-semenya |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=29 July 2016}}</ref> was suspended following the case of ''[[Dutee Chand]] v. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) & The International Association of Athletics Federations'', in the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]], decided in July 2015.<ref name="cas2015">{{Cite conference| publisher = [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]]| last = Court of Arbitration for Sport| title = CAS 2014/A/3759 Dutee Chand v. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) & The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)| date = July 2015| url = http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/award_internet.pdf| access-date = 16 August 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170704221029/http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/award_internet.pdf| archive-date = 4 July 2017| url-status = dead}}</ref> The ruling found that there was a lack of evidence provided that testosterone increased female athletic performance and notified the IAAF that it had two years to provide the evidence.<ref name="IAAF ruling">{{cite news|last1=Branch|first1=John|title=Dutee Chand, Female Sprinter With High Testosterone Level, Wins Right to Compete|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/sports/international/dutee-chand-female-sprinter-with-high-male-hormone-level-wins-right-to-compete.html|access-date=22 May 2016|work=The New York Times|date=27 July 2016|quote=The Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Switzerland, questioned the athletic advantage of naturally high levels of testosterone in women and therefore immediately suspended the practice of 'hyperandrogenism regulation' by track and field's governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations. It gave the organization, known as the I.A.A.F., two years to provide more persuasive scientific evidence linking 'enhanced testosterone levels and improved athletic performance'.}}</ref>

On 16 July, she set a new national record for 800 metres of 1:55:33.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rio Olympics 2016: Caster Semenya wins 800m gold for South Africa|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36691465|publisher=bbc.com|access-date=23 September 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=21 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Caster SEMENYA {{!}} Profile|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/south-africa/caster-semenya-14330057|website=worldathletics.org|access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref> On 20 August, she won the gold medal in the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 800 metres|women's 800 metres at the [[2016 Summer Olympics|Rio Olympics]] in Rio with a time of 1:55.28.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/20/sports/olympics/rio-schedule-results.html|title=Rio Olympics: Caster Semenya Leaves No Doubt in 800|access-date=15 September 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|date=20 August 2016|last1=Blumenthal|first1=Scott}}</ref> The win reignited controversy over the rules on permissible testosterone levels; immediately after the race [[Lynsey Sharp]], finishing sixth, broke into tears, having previously said that "everyone can see it's two separate races",<ref>{{cite news|last=Stevens|first=Samuel|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/rio-2016-caster-semenyas-800m-win-lynsey-sharp-tears-intersex-debate-a7202251.html|title=Rio 2016: Caster Semenya victory in 800m reduces Team GB athlete Lynsey Sharp to tears|date=22 August 2016|work=The Independent|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref> while fifth-placed [[Joanna Jóźwik]] stated "I feel like the silver medalist&nbsp;... I'm glad I'm the first European, the second white", to finish the race.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Critchley|first=Mark|title=Fifth-placed runner behind Semenya 'feels like silver medalist' and glad she was the 'second white'|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=23 August 2016|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/rio-2016-joanna-jozwik-caster-semenya-800m-hyperandrogenism-a7203731.html|date=22 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="guardkk">{{Cite news|issn=0261-3077|last=Karkazis|first=Katrina|author-link1=Katrina Karkazis|title=The ignorance aimed at Caster Semenya flies in the face of the Olympic spirit|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 September 2016|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/23/caster-semenya-olympic-spirit-iaaf-athletes-women}}</ref> Bioethicist [[Katrina Karkazis]] criticised the indignant response to Semenya's win as discriminatory.<ref name="guardkk"/>

In April 2018, the IAAF announced new rules effective 8 May 2019 that applied to athletes with certain [[disorders of sex development]] (DSDs) that result in androgen sensitivity and testosterone levels above 5 nmol/L. Under the new rules, these athletes would be required to take medication to lower their testosterone levels below the 5 nmol/L threshold for at least six months in order to compete in the female classification for certain events.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2018/04/25/caster-semenya-forced-lower-testosterone-levels-face-800m-ban/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2018/04/25/caster-semenya-forced-lower-testosterone-levels-face-800m-ban/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Caster Semenya to be forced to lower testosterone levels or face 800m ban|first=Ben|last=Bloom|date=25 April 2018|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/43890575|title=Caster Semenya expected to be affected by IAAF rule changes|date=26 April 2018|work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org/news/press-release/eligibility-regulations-for-female-classifica|title=IAAF introduces new eligibility regulations for female classification |date=26 April 2018|publisher=[[World Athletics|IAAF]]|location=Monaco|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org/about-iaaf/documents/health-science|title=IAAF Eligibility Regulations for the Female Classification (Athletes with Differences of Sex Development) in force as from 8 May 2019|date=1 June 2019}}</ref> The changes applied to eight different events{{snd}} including the [[400 metres|400m]], [[800 metres|800m]], and [[1500 metres|1500m]], which Semenya regularly competed in.<ref name="CAS summary"/>

In a report explaining its decision, the IAAF estimatedwrote that there was a "thebroad [[Performance-enhancingmedical substance|ergogenic]]and advantagescientific inconsensus" havingthat circulatingathletes testosteronewith levelshigh intestosterone thecan normal"significantly maleenhance rangetheir rathersporting thanpotential" indue theto normalgreater femalemuscle rangemass, isstrength, greaterand than[[hemoglobin|haemoglobin]] 9%..levels. The report added that "there is no other genetic or biological trait encountered in female athletics that confers such a huge performance advantage." [[Sports science|Sports scientist]] Ross Tucker estimated that the new rules could make Semenya "five to seven seconds slower over 800 metres."<ref>{{cite news|urlname=https"://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/25/iaaf-testosterone-rules-caster-semenya|title=New2" IAAF testosterone rules could slow Caster Semenya by up to seven seconds|first=Sean|last=Ingle|newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 April 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

In June 2018, Semenya announced that she would legally challenge the IAAF rules, calling them "discriminatory, irrational, [and] unjustifiable".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Longman |first1=Jeré |date=18 June 2018 |title=Caster Semenya Will Challenge Testosterone Rule in Court |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822025859/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/18/sports/caster-semenya-iaaf-lawsuit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822025859/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/18/sports/caster-semenya-iaaf-lawsuit.html |archive-date=2023-08-22 August 2023 |access-date=2023-10-28 October 2023 |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=2018-06-18}}</ref> She claimed that testosterone-suppressing medication, which she had taken from 2010 to 2015, had made her feel "constantly sick" and caused her abdominal pain, and that the IAAF had used her as a "guinea pig" to test the medication's effects.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ingle |first1=Sean |date=18 June 2019 |title=Caster Semenya accuses IAAF of using her as a 'guinea pig experiment' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/18/caster-semenya-iaaf-athletics-guinea-pig |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221125856/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/18/caster-semenya-iaaf-athletics-guinea-pig |archive-date=21 February 2024 |access-date=19 March 2024 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en |date=18 June 2019}}</ref>

The case divided legal and scientific commentators. [[Duke University School of Law|Duke Law School]] professor and former middle-distance runner [[Doriane Lambelet Coleman]] argued that the organization's rules guaranteed a "protected space" for female athletes. Physician and genetics researcher [[Eric Vilain]] argued in favor of Semenya, claiming that "sex is not defined by one particular parameter... it's so difficult to exclude women who've always lived their entire lives as women."<ref>{{Cite news| |last = Block| |first = Melissa |date=31 titleMay =2019 |title='I Am A Woman': Track Star Caster Semenya Continues Her Fight To Compete As Female| work = NPR| access-date url= 1 June https://www.npr.org/2019| date = /05/31/728400819/i-am-a-woman-track-star-caster-semenya-continues-her-fight-to-compete-as-a-femal May 2019| url -status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009160851/https://www.npr.org/2019/05/31/728400819/i-am-a-woman-track-star-caster-semenya-continues-her-fight-to-compete-as-a-femal |archive-date=9 October 2023 |access-date=1 June 2019 |work=[[NPR]]}}</ref> During the proceedings, the IAAF clarified that the regulations would only apply to DSD athletes with [[XY sex-determination system|XY chromosomes]].<ref name="CAS summary">{{Citation| last = Court of Arbitration for Sport| title = Semenya, ASA and IAAF: Executive Summary| date = 1 May 2019| access-date = 1 June 2019| url = https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/CAS_Executive_Summary__5794_.pdf |quote=During the course of the proceedings before the CAS, the IAAF explained that, following an amendment to the DSD Regulations, the DSD covered by the Regulations are limited to "46 XY DSD" – i.e. conditions where the affected individual has XY chromosomes. Accordingly, no individuals with XX chromosomes are subjected to any restrictions or eligibility conditions under the DSD Regulations }}</ref><ref>[https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/26887329/iaaf-told-suspend-semenya-testosterone-rules "IAAF told to suspend Semenya testosterone rules"], 3 June 2019, [[ESPN]].</ref>

In May 2019, the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] rejected Semenya's challenge in a 2–1 decision, paving the way for the new rules to come into effect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/48102479|title=Caster Semenya: Olympic 800m champion loses appeal against IAAF testosterone rules|date=1 May 2019|access-date=2 May 2019|work=BBC News}}</ref> Although the CAS agreed with Semenya that the rules were discriminatory, it concluded that this discrimination was "a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF's aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics".<ref>{{cite newsweb |last1date=Ingle1 |first1=SeanMay 2019 |title=Caster Semenya: losesOlympic landmark800m legalchampion caseloses appeal against IAAF over testosterone levelsrules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/48102479 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2023033021500320240306211055/https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/48102479 |archive-date=6 March 2024 |access-date=2 May 2019 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ingle |first1=Sean |date=1 May 2019 |title=Semenya loses landmark legal case against IAAF over testosterone levels |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/01/caster-semenya-loses-landmark-legal-case-iaaf-athletics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330215003/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/01/caster-semenya-loses-landmark-legal-case-iaaf-athletics |archive-date=2023-03-30 March 2023 |access-date=28 October 2023-10-28 |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=2019-05-01}}</ref>

That same month, Semenya appealed the decision to the [[Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland]]. The court provisionally suspended the World Athletics rules while deciding whether to issue an [[interlocutory injunction]] in June,.<ref>{{cite news |title=Caster Semenya: Olympic 800m champion can compete after Swiss court ruling |workurl=BBChttps://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/48504205 Sport|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009160857/https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/48504205 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |access-date=18 June 2019 |work=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> but reversedHowever, this decision was reversed in July, leaving Semenya unable to compete in the [[2019 World Athletics Championships]]races inbetween 400m and Dohaone mile while her appeal continued.<ref> {{cite news |urllast=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/sports/caster-semenya.htmlMather |workfirst=[[TheVictor New|last2=Longman York|first2=Jeré |date=31 July 2019 Times]]|title=Ruling Leaves Caster Semenya With Few Good Options|date=31 July 2019|access-dateurl=19 August https://www.nytimes.com/2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news07/31/sports/caster-semenya.html |titleurl-status='The IAAF will not drug me or stop me being who I am': Semenya appeals against Cas rulinglive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118183602/https://www.theguardiannytimes.com/sport/2019/may07/2931/sports/caster-semenya.html |archive-appeals-against-cas-ruling-over-iaaf-s-testosterone-levelsdate=18 November 2023 |access-date=2919 MayAugust 2019 |work=[[The GuardianNew |date=29York May 2019Times]]}}</ref>

The Swiss supreme court ultimately rejecteddismissed Semenya's appeal in September 2020. In its decision, the court affirmed that the CAS had the right to uphold World Athletics' rules "in order to guarantee fair competition for certain running disciplines in female athletics."<ref>{{cite news |workdate=[[NBCSports]]8 September 2020 |title=Caster Semenya loses appeal over testosterone rule |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/09/08/caster-semenya-appeal-track/ |titleurl-status=Casterlive Semenya loses appeal over testosterone rule|datearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326152736/https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020-/09-/08/caster-semenya-appeal-track/ |accessarchive-date=2021-0126 March 2023 |access-date=17 January 2021 |work=[[NBCSports]]}}</ref> The court also declared that because Semenya was "free to refuse treatment to lower testosterone levels," her "guarantee of human dignity" was not violated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunbar |first1=Graham |last2=Inmay |first2=Gerald |date=8 September 2020 |title=Semenya loses at Swiss supreme court over testosterone rules |url=https://apnews.com/article/bd69bc7ea983d9a1959813402d3d3472 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008134356/https://apnews.com/article/bd69bc7ea983d9a1959813402d3d3472 |url=https://apnews.com/article/bd69bc7ea983d9a1959813402d3d3472 |archive-date=8 October 2023-10-08 |access-date=28 October 2023-10-28 |website=[[Associated Press]] |date=2020-09-08}}</ref>

In February 2021, Semenya again appealed the case to the [[European Court of Human Rights]].<ref>{{cite news |workauthor=[[CNN]]Spary |first=Sara |date=26 February 2021 |title=Caster Semenya appeals to European Court of Human Rights over 'discriminatory' testosterone limit |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/26/sport/caster-semenya-appeal-scli-intl-spt/index.html |titleurl-status=Casterlive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009160851/https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/26/sport/caster-semenya-appeal-scli-intl-spt/index.html |archive-date=9 October 2023 |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> In March 2023, World Athletics made its rules for Semenya appealsand other DSD athletes even more restrictive, requiring them to Europeanlower Courttheir testosterone levels below a threshold of Human2.5 Rightsnmol/L overfor 'discriminatory'at testosteroneleast 24 months before competing.<ref>{{cite news limit|authorlast1=SaraEwing |first1=Lori Spary|date=202123 March 2023 |title=World governing body bans transgender women athletes |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/world-02governing-26body-tightens-restrictions-transgender-dsd-athletes-2023-03-23/ |accessurl-datestatus=2021live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416082348/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/world-governing-body-tightens-restrictions-transgender-dsd-athletes-2023-03-2223/ |archive-date=16 April 2023 |access-date=28 October 2023 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> InThe July 2023, the courtECHR ruled in herSemenya's favor in a 4-34–3 decision in July 2023, finding that the competition rules had discriminated against her and infringed on her human rights. However, the decision did not overturn the rules themselves, and World Athletics stated that the regulations would "remain in place."<ref name="nbc-11jul2023">{{cite news |date=11 July 2023 |title=Olympic champion Caster Semenya wins appeal against testosterone rules in human rights court |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/olympic-champion-caster-semenya-wins-appeal-testosterone-rules-human-r-rcna93663 |accessurl-datestatus=11 July 2023 |work=[[NBC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=11 July 2023}}</ref> World Athletics had previously made its rules for Semenya and other athletes with certain [[disorders of sex development]] even more restrictive in March 2023, requiring affected individuals to lower their testosterone levels below a threshold of 2.5 nmol/L for at least 24 months before competing.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ewing |first1=Lori |title=World governing body bans transgender women athleteslive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2023041608234820240318155001/https://www.reutersnbcnews.com/lifestylenbc-out/sports/worldout-governing-body-tightens-restrictions-transgender-dsd-athletes-2023-03-23news/ |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/worldolympic-governingchampion-bodycaster-tightenssemenya-restrictionswins-transgenderappeal-dsdtestosterone-athletesrules-2023human-03r-23/rcna93663 |archive-date=2023-04-1618 March 2024 |access-date=11 July 2023-10-28 |websitework=[[AssociatedNBC PressNews]] |dateagency=2020-09-08[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

In 2012, Semenya was awarded South African Sportswoman of the Year Award at the SA Sports Awards in [[Sun City, North West|Sun City]]. Semenya received the bronze [[Order of Ikhamanga]] on 27 April 2014, as part of [[Freedom Day (South Africa)|Freedom Day]] festivities.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.enca.com/south-africa/zuma-presents-national-orders-pretoria|title = Zuma presents National Orders in Pretoria|date = 27 April 2014|publisher = eNCA|access-date = 15 May 2014|archive-date = 13 October 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191013121348/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/zuma-presents-national-orders-pretoria|url-status = dead}}</ref> <!-- Do NOT add reports of Semenya marrying; such reports are unconfirmed and not supported by reliable sources. See talk page for more information. Discussion prior to inclusion is warranted. See also WP:BLP -->

Semenya married her long-term partner, [[Violet Raseboya]], in December 2015 (traditional ceremony) and January 2017 (civil ceremony).<ref>{{cite web | title = Caster Semenya has stirring words for her critics after winning women's 800m | url = https://www.smh.com.au/sport/olympics/rio-2016/olympics-athletics/caster-semenya-has-stirring-words-for-her-critics-after-winning-womens-800m-20160821-gqxm1n.html | work = [[Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 21 August 2016 | access-date = 23 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="st2016r">{{cite web| url = http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/stnews/2016/04/24/WATCH-Caster-on-love-Rio-and-playing-for-Banyana | title = WATCH: Caster on love, Rio and playing for Banyana | work = [[The Sunday Times (South Africa)|The Sunday Times]]| date = 24 April 2016 | access-date = 23 August 2016}}</ref><ref name='N24'>{{cite news | author = Faeza | title = PICTURES: Caster Semenya and Violet Raseboya's are now married | url = https://www.news24.com/MoveMag/Archive/pictures-caster-semenya-and-violet-raseboyas-are-now-married-20170728 | work = [[News24 (website)|News24]] | date = 9 January 2017 | access-date = 30 May 2019 | archive-date = 30 May 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190530131810/https://www.news24.com/MoveMag/Archive/pictures-caster-semenya-and-violet-raseboyas-are-now-married-20170728 | url-status = dead }}</ref> They revealedhave thattwo Violetdaughters, Raseboyaone gaveborn birthin to2019 theirand daughteranother in 20202022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Caster Semenya's wife: 5 interesting facts and photos of Violet Raseboya|url=https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/caster-semenya-s-wife-5-interesting-facts-and-photos-of-violet-raseboya/ar-BB1bO92s?li=BB12IW4j|access-date=2021-08-02|website=www.msn.com|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210802143600/https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/caster-semenya-s-wife-5-interesting-facts-and-photos-of-violet-raseboya/ar-BB1bO92s?li=BB12IW4j|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Engelbrecht |first=Compiled by Leandra |title=Caster Semenya and wife Violet celebrate 'miracle' baby on third birthday |url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/news/caster-semenya-and-wife-violet-celebrate-miracle-baby-on-third-birthday-20220706-2 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Life |language=en-US}}</ref>

*[[EwaMargaret KłobukowskaWambui]]

[[Category:South African LGBTlesbian sportspeoplesportswomen]]

[[Category:LGBTSouth associationAfrican footballLGBT playersfootballers]]