A short introduction
In 2009, a mere 2.5 seconds made Caster Semenya a household name across South Africa. It was her win in that 800 meter race at the 2009 IAAF World Championship that elevated her into the upper echelons of international competition. At the same time, Semenya's win drew increasing scrutiny along with accusations about cheating and both her sex and gender identity. As a result, "in 2009, the IAAF implemented what it called, a 'gender verification test' on Semenya. The test’s name in itself is a misnomer as gender is a social construct and what was essentially being tested was her biological sex. However, biological sex is also a complex matter and the test works with testosterone which is present in all women and not necessarily indicative of a performance advantage." (South African History Online, 2020)
For more insight into Semenya's situation, the unjust treatment to which she's been exposed, and her incredible resolve in the face of this treatment, watch through the following 2015 video detailing Semenya's fight to participate before continuing onto the next section: