South African athlete Caster Semenya has expressed her disappointment at the lack of support she's recieved from other female athletes, particularly after being sidelined from the 800-meter event late last year.
Last September, Semenya, who has naturally elevated levels of testosterone, was forbidden from defending her world title when, last minute, the Swiss Federal Tribunal reversed a ruling that was set to temporarily lift regulations forcing her to take testosterone suppressants. The incident sparked international debate around gender identity and verification in sports and even earned the 28-year-old support from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
According to Reuters, the two-time Olympic champion and middle-distance runner told a women’s conference in Johannesburg, South Africa earlier this week she had struggled to deal with the "rude" responses from her competitors.
“I think it comes more into the international stage when you see your own rivals come with this...what can I call it...these rude responses in terms of me competing against them," she said.
“Since I have been in [sports] I have never really felt very supported, I’ve never felt recognised, mostly by women."
As for the track star's future? Semenya said she hadn't quite made up her mind yet.
“In terms of changing events, I haven’t decide anything about moving up or moving down."
"I still consider myself a middle distance runner,” she said.
“Whoever is going to stop me from running is going to have to drag me out of the track.”
