'Doors might be closed, not locked,' says Semenya

'Doors might be closed, not locked,' says Semenya

Double Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya has called on her supporters and fans to "chill" in response to the ruling by the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland.

Caster-Semenya-AFP
Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

South Africa's champ reacted on social media last night, telling her followers "a man can change the rules but the very same man cannot rule my life".


The court upheld the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and decided on Tuesday that Semenya will be unable to defend her 800m Olympic title in Tokyo next year, if she does not take the medication to lower her natural testosterone levels. 


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The CAS last year ordered that athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) are not allowed to compete in events between 400 and 1500 meters without taking testosterone-reducing drugs.


Semenya said on social media that she believes that while the doors may be closed, they are not locked.


She did not elaborate on her options to possibly compete in events which are not included in the ruling.

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