Intervention: Semenya v Switzerland (European Court of Human Rights), No. 10934/21, July 11, 2023

The recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights in Semenya v Switzerland is a landmark case in the context of sports governance. For the first time, the Court was asked to consider whether sporting regulations restricting the eligibility of legal females with sex variations were compatible with rights to privacy and dignity guaranteed by the European Convention. It was also the first time the Court has been asked to consider violations by sports organisations of substantive human rights, rather than merely procedural ones. In finding in favour of Miss Semenya, the Court has begun to clarify the limits of autonomy that sports governing bodies enjoy when it comes to interferences with human rights. As such, the decision will potentially have consequences beyond regulations targeted at females with sex variations. This article provides a summary and comment on the case