South African Olympic winner Caster Semenya is seeking funds to assist her with fighting a court battle at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The 33-year-old will return to court after successfully winning the case against Switzerland in July last year. It was ruled that the two-time Olympic champion was the victim of discrimination by the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Meanwhile, Switzerland – which cooperates with the World Athletics Federation – has since appealed the court’s decision with a new hearing now scheduled to take place on 15 May.
In a press conference which was held on Friday, mzansi’s 800 and 1500-metre athlete revealed that she needed funds to assist her with the process.
“We don’t have the resources. We have a lot of experts that we have to pay. Anything you can contribute will make a big difference,” she said.
She explained that it is not just about her, but every female athlete who is discriminated against and challenged to reduce their testosterone levels.
Her lawyer Greg Nott has revealed that the amount required for the legal battle would cost at least R3.4 million. Her costs include hiring expert lawyers overseas to fight her case, as well as a lawyer who is a King’s Counsel.
“It’s been a long journey, over a decade, and we are asking every single person out there who is willing to help us in this case. As we all know, I’ve been criticised for who I am, but I think this case is more than that. It’s about enabling young African and Asian girls to participate in sport,” she said.
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