Caster Semenya considering running for president of World Athletics

[zibzibara]

https://x.com/WomenReadWomen/status/1822200512537641020

A master class in gaslighting on display from male athlete Caster Semenya, who just announced that he is considering running for president of World Athletics - a regulatory body which disqualified him from competing against women - because, as he says, the "worst part" is that sports are "regulated by men".

Semenya was one of three male athletes with DSDs (differences of sexual development) to cheat women out of a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics 800m. Not a single woman placed in that event in their own category.During a 20-minute interview with German outlet ARD this week, Semenya, who is a male with internal testes (46 XY 5-ARD) stated his support for male boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting.

He also made several outrageous statements, such as:

- Women who oppose his participation in female sports are just expressing an "opinion"

- Testosterone has no affect on his athletic performance

- Sports are never fair

- People should respect Semenya because he comes from an "enslaved continent"

World Athletics is headed by a president. The World Athletics Council has a total of 26 elected members, comprising one president, four vice-presidents (one senior), the presidents of the six area associations, two members of the Athletes' Commission and 13 Council members. Each member of the Council is elected for a four-year period by the World Athletics Congress, a biennial gathering of athletics officials that consists of the Council, Honorary Members, and up to three delegates from each of the national member federations. Chairpersons and members of Committees, which manage specialist portfolios, are also elected by the Congress. There are four committees: the Cross Country Committee, the Race Walking Committee, the Technical Committee, and the Women's Committee. A further three committees were launched in 2019: Development, Governance and Competitions. The governance structure is outlined in the World Athletics Constitution, which may be amended by the Congress.

And

In order to give active athletes a voice in the governance of the sport, World Athletics created the Athletes' Commission. Athletes are elected to the commission by other athletes, typically held at the Congress attached to the World Athletics Championships. The commission chairperson and one other athlete of the opposite sex are given voting rights on the Council. The last election was held in October 2019 at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.

Following doping and corruption issues, a Code of Ethics was agreed in 2013 and an Ethics Commission was appointed in 2014. The Council appoints the chairperson from the elected members, and in turn, the chairperson appoints a deputy chair. The Ethics Board's scope was limited in 2017 with the creation of the independent Athletics Integrity Unit, headed by Australia's Brett Clothier, to oversee ethical issues and complaints at arm's length.

So Caster Semenya thinks they can come in at the bottom without any political experience, get elected immediately right to the top by the various members. And then not come into immediate direct conflict with the athletes themselves, who have a deliberately balanced voice for males and females. And is willing to come into direct conflict with the independent group which deals with ethics in world athletics.

Yeah ok. In your own head Caster.

Meanwhile on planet earth everyone can see the size of your ego and unsuitability for the job..

This doesn't look like a massive chip on the shoulder and an epic tantrum at all.

Thank you. That sounds reassuring. As you say, it’s pretty unlikely he’ll jump straight into being elected president.