Caster Semenya Drops Out of Race After Gender Test Results Leaked
South African track star Caster Semenya dropped out of a race Saturday after reports claimed that she is a hermaphrodite. Citing an unnamed source, both the Sydney Daily Telegraphy and Sydney Morning Herald claimed earlier this week that Caster has both male and female sex organs.
The International Association of Athletics Federation ordered a gender test after she won the women's 800-meters at the world championships in August in Berli. However, they would not confirm or deny the reports. The IAAF said it would continue to review the test results and release their findings in November.
Caster's coach, Michael Seme, said:
"We have decided that Caster will not run [Saturday]," adding that the 18-year-old was "not feeling well."
The newspaper report claiming that Caster is a hermaphrodite has angered her family and supporters, who say that they will not allow her to be banned from international competition.
South African sports minister Makhenskesi Stofile said:
"We will go to the highest levels of contesting such a decision. I think it would be the Third World War.
We think her human rights have been violated and her privacy invaded. I don't know why she is being subjected to this."
Her grandmother, Maphuthi Sekgale, added:
"I've raised her as young girl and I have no doubt that she is a girl. As the family, we don't care who is saying what. We will always support her athletic talent."
She won the World Championship 800-meter race on August 19 in Berlin by 2.45 seconds with a world record time of 1 minute, 55.45 seconds. Speculation about her gender was sparked by her deep voice, as well as a dramatic improvement in speed and muscle.
Comments
If this runner is truly a hermaphrodite, let her be. If she has been raised as a female, and feels that she is a female, then she is. She did not do anything to cause her condition and should not be penalized for having what some might call a birth defect. Does the condition give her an advantage over other female runners? Probably, but so does being born with long legs, good genes, and an ability to run fast! I do not believe it was even fair (or legal) to test her, unless all athletes are given the same test. Is there any written rule that says runners cannot be hermaphrodites? I think not.
it a,azes me that its always australian news outlets that "break" the news first! just goes to show that they have no compassion and that a person's feelings are the last thing that they consider! SHAME ON THEM
OF course a hermaphrodite cannot compete against women. Hermaphrodites have 3-7 times the amount of testosterone of a normal woman in their systems.
Rules and comitees are in place to keep playing fields level and fair.
So this hermaphrodite was raised as a woman? Cool. I don't care. By that argument a gay man who dresses like a woman and is treated like a woman should be able to compete in women's events. ummm, no.
Sorry this person's gender became such a huge public ordeal, but what were here coaches thinking? Did they not realize she is built like a man? Did they not realize she has a voice like Isaac Hayes? Did they not realize she has a penis?
As far as I'm concerned, it's just another liar/cheater trying to break the rules to win. Kick him/her out
I feel so bad for her. I couldn't imagine having such intimate details of my life publicized in front of the whole world.