Boxer: Athletics must learn from Semenya affair

Three-time British Olympian Christina Boxer hopes athletics will learn some hard lessons from the Caster Semenya affair.

Semenya’s 800 metres victory at this summer’s World Championships was completely overshadowed by a storm over the South African athlete’s gender.

The 18-year-old was told to undergo gender tests and the row over their handling and her status is still to be resolved.

Boxer is appalled at how Semenya has been treated and wants measures implemented to make sure there can be no repeat of the media storm which followed her with any sensitive issues in future.

“I just think it was sad the way it was dealt with,” Boxer said. “I think it was terrible we just looked at something and made such strong judgements. I really felt for her.

“I think it is something the sport will have to consider more for the future.

“It’s not what happens but how you deal with it that often has to be considered.

“It shouldn’t have been something that was dealt with in the public eye. It should have been dealt with very discreetly.

“You are talking about a young person and their whole self-esteem.

“She dealt with it all with such dignity and she had to cope with the whole world and being in the spotlight.

“I hope they never treat someone like that again.

“It was a fantastic World Championships but that is the one thing I wish was handled differently.”

The controversy did take the focus off some pleasing British performances in Berlin.

Jenny Meadows claimed bronze behind Semenya in the 800m while Lisa Dobriskey took silver in the 1,500m.

Boxer was herself a middle-distance star, winning 1,500m gold at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and finishing fourth in the 1988 Olympic 800m.

“It is really exciting the women are doing so well,” she said.

“I have always been really passionate about the men and the women but it is lovely to see a lot of our women up there now competing with the best.”

Boxer is now director of girls’ sport at Malvern College in Worcestershire, where today a number of high-profile sports stars will attend the opening of a new multi-million pound sports complex.

Among the names attending will be Dame Kelly Holmes, who through her own trust is working in partnership with the college.

The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust aims to harness the achievement of sporting champions to inspire young people to fulfil their potential.