Update: Usain Bolt did not tell Caster Semenya to accept testosterone rule, move on
In May 2019, there were world-wide reports that former athlete, Usain Bolt, urged South African athlete, Caster Semenya to accept the new rules on hormone levels implemented by the International Association of Athletics.
Update: It has since come to light that there is no evidence to prove Bolt made the statement in relation to Semenya.
At the time, it was reported that Bolt made his stand on the controversial landmark ruling on testosterone during the launch of his electric scooter brand on Wednesday, 15 May.
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In May 2019 Caster Semenya, South Africa’s two-time Olympic gold-winning track athlete, lost her appeal against an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruling.
The ruling stated Semenya can only compete if she takes testosterone-suppressing drugs.
The case has sparked a lot of mixed reactions in South Africa, as well as across the globe.
Briefly.co.za earlier reported that Bolt agreed with the ruling, saying Semenya should accept it and move on.
Quoting an AFP video, it was reported at the time that Bolt said:
"I heard about her story without following it very closely. For me it's just the rules. I don't make the rules but I enforce them.
"When there is rule I never discuss it, I just bend over and move on."
According to Africa Check, a fact checking organisation, however, Bolt never made such claims. The article caused widespread controversy, with many lashing out against Bolt.
The organisation traced the quote to a video by Agence Presse-France, or AFP.
AFP is a global news agency.
In the video, Bolt answers questions during the launch of an electric scooter brand, but the original piece gave the impression that the Olympian was referring to Semenya.
It has since come to light that Bolt did not make these claims in relation to Semenya.
In the AFP video, Bolt states: “For me, that is just rules. I’ve said it over the years. I don’t make the rules. I just follow the rules and that is it.”
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Source: Briefly News
