Life seems to be going well for middle-distance runner Caster Semenya, despite the fact that she is currently banned from participating in international sports events, on the condition she takes medication to reduce her testosterone levels. This ruling was made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Despite her career struggles, she recently welcomed a second baby with her wife and now she is set to release her book titled: The Race to Be Myself to be released in October this year.
TELLING HER TRUTH
Announcing her new book, Semenya said the memoir will be a simultaneous release in the US, UK, and SA. "It is my hope that by finally telling my truth, I will inspire others to be bold, unafraid and most importantly to love and accept themselves as they are," she said. The 32-year-old Limpopo-born athlete said her life has had its struggles, but it has mostly been a joy. "Through my example, I want to educate, enlighten, and inform about how the world can welcome those born different. You may have heard some of my stories over the years, and you might have seen me running or standing proudly on the podium at the Olympics. But there is still so much I need to relate about strength, courage, love, resilience," she said, adding that she wants her book to show people around the world how to do just that.
TALKING ABOUT HER CONDITION
It is no secret that Semenya has a rare conditioning called hyperandrogenism, which means she has higher than usual levels of testosterone, which increases her muscle mass, strength and ability to use oxygen. In 2018, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that she must take meds to lower testosterone levels to compete. Semenya tried the medication but quickly stopped after hectic side effects. During a candid interview with HBO in 2020, she made it clear that the medication was horrible and was quoted as saying that it made her sick, gain weight and gave her panic attacks. Her book tackles the same issues and educates those who are suffering in the dark. ZiMoja has learnt that Semenya was offered one of the lucrative book deals she could not resist by international publishers, Merky Books.
