Caster Semenya hits back at world athletics boss

Semenya has challenged the International Association of Athletics Federation’s bid to force her to take testosterone-lowering medication.

In an interview, Coe told the Australian Daily Telegraph last weekend: "The reason we have gender classification is that if you didn’t then no woman would ever win another title or another medal or break another record in our sport."

The double Olympic champion's legal team has responded to the interview with a statement which notes that “the scars Semenya has developed during her career run deep”.

"Ms Semenya remembers her story breaking out of Australia ten years ago on the eve of her competing in the 2009 World Championships. After winning the 800 meter final the next day Ms Semenya stood in the middle of the stadium knowing that everyone watching the event was judging her. She was 18 years old. The nature of the intrusive medical examinations that Ms Semenya was subjected to following the event were discussed publicly, including by the IAAF.

"The scars Ms Semenya has developed over the past decade run deep. She has endured and forged herself into a symbol of strength, hope and courage. Reading the comments of Mr Coe this weekend opened those old wounds and the reference by the Daily Telegraph (Australia) to “the muscle-packed Semenya” is just the latest illustration of how the issues have been distorted by innuendo."

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Semenya's legal team reiterated that she is - without a doubt - a woman.

"The IAAF does not dispute this. She was born a woman, raised a woman, socialized as a woman and has competed as a woman her entire life. Mr Coe may have views about transgender women in sport, but that is a different issue.

“Ms Semenya has challenged the regulation that affects women athletes with differences in sexual development and forces them to undergo invasive medical intervention to be able to participate in women’s sport.

“Ms Semenya does not wish to undergo medical intervention to change who she is and how she was born. She wants to compete naturally,"

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has postponed a decision in the landmark dispute over testosterone limits for female athletes until the end of April.

"Mr Coe is wrong to think Ms Semenya is a threat to women’s sport. Ms Semenya is a heroine and inspirational role model for young girls around the world who dream of achieving excellence in sport. Ms Semenya hopes and dreams that one day she can run free of judgment, free of discrimination and in a world where she is accepted for who she is,” the statement reads.