Olympic silver medalist also has testosterone condition
The woman who finished second behind Caster Semenya at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics says she also has a condition that gives her high levels of naturally occurring testosterone and would be affected if the IAAF implements its hormone policy.
Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, an Olympic and world championships silver medalist in the 800 meters, said in an interview with the Olympic Channel that she has hyperandrogenism.
She says “I didn’t choose to be born like this. What am I? I’m created by god. So, (if) someone has more questions about it, maybe (they) can ask god. I love myself. I will still be Francine. I will not change.”
Echoing the argument of Semenya, Niyonsaba says the IAAF’s proposed rule forcing some female athletes to lower their natural testosterone levels or be barred from certain events is “discrimination.”
