THE IAAF has been accused of “blatant racism” over new regulations which will impact Caster Semenya.
The rules will limit the testosterone levels of female athletes competing over distances between 400 metres and a mile.
And South Africa’s ruling party the African National Congress has hit out at what it believes is a case against Olympic champ Semenya, 27.
South African minister of sport Tokozile Xasa described them as “Caster Semenya Regulations as they are designed to disadvantage Caster in her career”.
She added: “South Africans and all progressive people of the world must unite and support Caster and all affected athletes in this regard.
“Caster is not just an athlete to people of South Africa – she represents their hopes and aspirations.
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“She is a pathfinder to the rural poor and downtrodden, she is an affirmation of black excellence.
“She undermines a stereotype that nothing good will ever come from the rural villages.”
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ANC spokesman Pule Mabe compared the policy to apartheid in a strongly-worded blast.
He said: “The regulations are a painful reminder of our past where an unjust government specifically legislated laws for certain activists in society to stifle their fight against an unjust system.
“The IAAF uses the same tactic to exclude those who have defined the past decade as champions and treasures of their home countries.
“We call on government to challenge this grossly unfair, unjust and blatant racist attempt by the IAAF to the court of arbitration for sport.
“The ANC has always understood sport as a unifier and a tool to bring people and nations together. It is for this reason and many that the ANC cannot ignore the attempt by the IAAF to discriminate and exclude athletes.
“These new regulations infringe on the human rights of athletes, targeting mainly those in east Europe, Asia and the African continent. The racial undertones of this cannot go unnoticed.”
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