Semenya’s fight is over, but for World Athletics the battle has just begun

Global governing body World Athletics might have had some trouble enforcing its controversial gender rules until this point, but it had better get ready for a battle of the ages.

Until this point, the rules restricting hyperandrogenic women have largely affected middle-distance events, which is traditionally the domain of African athletes.

But after extending its ban on athletes with ‘differences of sexual development’ this week to all track and field events, athletes in Europe, America and Asia are going to be far more affected.

When it banned athletes from countries like Namibia, Burundi and Kenya, these nations didn’t have the resources to take on an international organisation of its size, and while Athletics South Africa joined Caster Semenya in taking the international federation to court, they fought a lone battle.

This week’s announcement effectively ended Semenya’s career, but after losing multiple appeals, the 32-year-old middle-distance star is already past her prime and is unlikely to take her fight any further than she already has.

More problems

However, Semenya and ASA are now the least of the problems World Athletics faces after it announced that DSD women must take hormone suppressants for two years before they are allowed back on the track in women’s events.

When this rule starts to affect athletes from the United States, Great Britain and China, they’ll be waking sleeping giants which have tremendous resources and will be more than happy to fight endless battles in court to have this rule overturned.

While people in South Africa have been mostly outraged by Semenya’s treatment, her participation has been largely criticised by athletics fans from around the world, many of whom have claimed she should not be allowed to run against women.

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But as frustrated as Semenya must be, she can finally step back from her role as the ‘poster girl’ of athletes with hyperandrogenism, not only because her career is in its twilight but because a whole lot more athletes who shine in other disciplines are likely to be sidelined in the same way she has.

And if World Athletics thought South Africa put up a strong fight, they’re going to be shocked.

As much as they might have been critical when it affected a small group of individuals, the rest of the world is going to be as upset as we are when their athletes are shut out in the same way that African athletes have been sidelined, and they’re going to react with a much more powerful punch.