Dewey guides Caster Semenya through IAAF gender testing

21 September 2009 | By Julia Berris

Dewey & LeBoeuf is advising South African athlete Caster Semenya to ensure her human rights are upheld during gender testing by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Dewey South African partner Greg Nott and New York-based head of sports Jeff Kessler are advising Semenya on a pro-bono basis.

The case comes after Semenya had to take a gender test when doubts were raised about her sex following this year’s World Championships in Athletics, which was held in Berlin and at which Semenya won the women’s 800 metres race.

Nott said: “The plight of Ms Semenya is a great matter of concern not just to South Africans, but to fair-minded people around the world.

“We’re going to do everything possible to make certain that her civil and legal rights, and dignity as a person are fully protected.”

Last year The Lawyer reported that Kessler successfully represented Olympic hopeful Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee, in his case against the IAAF, which said the sprinter was not eligible to compete in IAAF-sanctioned able-bodied competitions (16 May 2008).

Kessler said: “We learned through the Oscar Pistorius case that the rule of law does prevail in international sports and that equality of opportunity can be achieved.”