Government vows to fight back on Semenya
The South African government has vowed that it will support World and Olympic champion Caster Semenya against the newly approved testosterone regulations as it believes it is purely an attack on her abilities.
The International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) new laws on female testosterone regulations were met with outrage on Thursday.
Various highly placed officials have come out in support of Semenya against what has been dubbed the 'Semenya-regulations'.
"We regard these as crafted around Caster Semeneya - these regulations - and we are saying they are nothing but a continued attack on the persona of Caster Semenya, the South Africa golden girl," says Minister of Sports and Recreation, Toko Xasa.
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Leading sports scientist, Dr Ross Tucker believes the regulations can slow Semenya down by between 4% and 6% in a 800m race.
But Xasa says government will not allow this, and is currently considering all measures, promising that affected athletes will be "allowed to participate unhindered by measures to reduce their competitive edge".
The governing party has now also promised that the IAAF's "racial undertone"-regulations will not go unnoticed.
"The ANC will stand with Caster Semenya in yet another attempt by international sport bodies to exclude and discriminate against her," says spokesperson Pule Mabe.