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ECHR Grand Chamber Set to Rule on Semenya’s Testosterone Regulations Appeal

A Thursday verdict will decide if Semenya’s human rights victory against World Athletics’ 2018 rules leads to another judicial review in Switzerland.

Athletics - Golden League Track and Field ISTAF - The Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany - September 4, 2022 South Africa's Caster Semenya in action during the women's 5000m REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo
South Africa's Caster Semenya speaks to lawyer Gregory Nott, right, in the European Court of Human Rights before a decision over sex eligibility rules in sports, Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Antonin Utz)
South Africa's Caster Semenya leaves in the European Court of Human Rights Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Antonin Utz)
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Overview

  • The European Court of Human RightsGrand Chamber of 17 judges is set to issue its final ruling on Semenya’s appeal after nearly two years of deliberation.
  • World Athletics introduced the contested 2018 regulations requiring women with differences of sex development to reduce natural testosterone levels to compete internationally.
  • If the judges uphold last year’s decision that the rules violated Semenya’s rights, the case will return to Swiss courts rather than lead to an immediate suspension of the regulations.
  • Semenya has been barred from top-level competition since 2019 after refusing to comply with the testosterone-suppression mandate and now frames her struggle as a human rights campaign.
  • The outcome could shape eligibility policies in other sports that have adopted similar testosterone-based standards, including swimming, boxing and football.