Reigning world 800 meter champion Caster Semenya is set to sue the International Association of Athletics (IAAF) and Athletics South Africa (ASA) for $120 million and $18 million, respectively. Semenya has hired renowned lawyer Greg Nott of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP to represent her in the case.
Semenya is suing on the grounds that the IAAF allegedly leaked confidential gender test information during the IAAF World Championships in Berlin and that these leaks sparked rumors that the 18 year old South African runner was a hermaphrodite. The Board of the ASA stepped down after its President Leonard Chuene admitted to knowing there was uncertainty regarding Semenya's gender prior to the World Championships and that tests were actually performed before the event.
Caster Semenya made headlines in August of 2009 not only for winning the World Championship 800 meter event in 1:55, but for stirring up sex-verification rumors and controversy. Once her competitors and spectators around the world began to question her masculine build, news of previously performed gender tests performed by the ASA leaked, ultimately erupting an international scandal. The teenager's privacy and self esteem were shattered from the start, but after months of back and forth statements, the IAAF decided that Semenya would keep her world title and gold medal. There is no final word on if and when Semenya will continue to compete against women, against men or even at all.
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