South Africans celebrate Caster Semenya's court victory

Caster Semenya's fans are in celebration mode after the South African athlete scored a major court victory this week. 

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR ) ruled on Tuesday that regulations forcing her to take medication to lower her testosterone levels infringed on her rights. 

Caster has been in and out of court over the past few years challenging a decision by World Athletics, which banned her from taking part in races. 

The athlete, who was born with Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), has naturally high levels of testosterone. 

She previously lost an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. The country's supreme court later confirmed the decision. 

Caster says her win is only the beginning, adding that she hopes the ECHR's ruling will make sporting bodies "respect the dignity and human rights of the athletes they deal with".

"You all know what a journey this has been for me. I am happy at the outcome of the verdict. I will always stand against injustice and discrimination of any kind more especially on the field of play. We all deserve to live in a world where we are free to be ourselves," she said on Instagram. 

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The Olympic gold medalist's win has been described as a victory for gender equality.  Caster's fans and supporters took to social media to welcome the latest court ruling. 

"She fought a great fight. It took long, but she won," a Twitter user named Getrude wrote. 

A second user, @SlayingGoliath, tweeted: "Caster Semenya has won her appeal at the European Court of Human Rights to challenge whether her rights had been infringed by rules requiring women athletes with natural high testosterone to reduce those levels through medication."

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Caster also received messages of support from all over the world.

"Great news! Well done, Caster, for sticking to your guns, and going all the way! Please get back to competing!" a Twitter user named Annabelle Gauberti wrote.

She added in another post: "Time for reform & change @WorldAthletics. Now you must reform your old ways & let women like Caster compete internationally. Time to do the right thing & stop f**king around." 

An England-based Twitter user tweeted: "Good news! Intersex world champion athlete Caster Semenya wins human rights violation court case. Disgusting that this happened at all and that she had to fight this far, but she's a hero." 

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Caster Semenya's Truth

Caster's win has been labelled as a symbolic win for the athlete - especially considering that World Athletics has stated that its rules will remain the same despite the ruling.  Her ECHR case was against the ruling handed down by the Switzerland government, and not the international athletics governing body.

World Athletics updated its regulations earlier this year, adding new eligibility regulations for Difference of Sexual Development (DSD) and male-to-female transgender athletes. 

"For DSD athletes, the new regulations will require any relevant athletes to reduce their testosterone levels below a limit of 2.5 nmol/L for a minimum of 24 months to compete internationally in the female category in any event, not just the events that were restricted (400m to one mile) under the previous regulations," officials said in a statement.

Caster will be telling her truth in her new book. The 32-year-old announced in June that she will be releasing a memoir called 'The Race to be Myself'.

It is scheduled for release in South Africa on October 31. The book will also debut in America and the UK on the same day. 

"It is my hope that by finally telling my truth, I will inspire others to be bold, unafraid, and most importantly to love and accept themselves as they are. This is my offering from me to you," she wrote on Instagram. 

Caster Semenya daughter

Despite the battles in her professional life, Caster's personal life is flourishing. She recently celebrated her eldest daughter Oratile Semenya's fourth birthday. 

"A happy birthday to my princess @ora_semenya I hope you enjoy your day and may God bless you with many more to come I love," the athlete wrote on Instagram. 

Caster and her wife Violet have a second daughter named Oarabile. She will also be celebrating her birthday in July.

Oarabile turns two on July 15.

ALSO READ: Caster Semenya's wife reflects on road to conceiving "miracle" daughter

Main image credit: Instagram/@castersemenya800m

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