Champion Female Runner's Gender Tested
"Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer's talks about the latest poll numbers that show President Obama and Mitt Romney are about even in the race for the White House. / CBS News
Facing questions about her gender, South African teenager Caster Semenya easily won the 800-meter gold medal Wednesday at the world championships.
Her dominating run came on the same day track and field's ruling body said she was undergoing a gender test because of concerns she does not meet requirements to compete as a woman.
Semenya took the lead at the halfway mark and opened a commanding lead in the last 400 meters to win by a massive 2.45 seconds in a world-leading 1 minute, 55.45 seconds. Defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei was second and Jennifer Meadows of Britain was third in 1:57.93.
After crossing the line, Semenya dusted her shoulders with her hands.
A gender test has been ordered, officials say, not because Semenya is suspected of cheating by having had a sex change operation, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips, but to determine whether she has what's being called "a medical condition."
"I don't know who said it... I don't give a damn about it," Semenya told a television crew after the race.
About three weeks ago, the international federation asked South African track and field authorities to conduct the verification test. Semenya had burst onto the scene by posting a world-leading time of 1:56.72 at the African junior championships in Maruitius.
Her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice sparked speculation about her gender. Ideally, any dispute surrounding an athlete is dealt with before a major competition. But Semenya's stunning rise from unknown teenage runner to the favorite in the 800 happened almost overnight. That meant the gender test - which takes several weeks - could not be completed in time.
Before the race, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies stressed this is a "medical issue, not an issue of cheating." He said the "extremely complex" testing has begun. The process requires a physical medical evaluation and includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, internal medicine specialist and gender expert.
South Africa team manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane would not confirm or deny that Semenya was having such a test.
"We entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way," Mlangeni-Tsholetsane said. "Our conscience is clear in terms of Caster. We have no reservations at all about that."
Although medals will be awarded for the 800, the race remains under a cloud until the investigation is closed, and Semenya could be stripped of the gold depending on the test results, IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss said.
"But today there is no proof and the benefit of doubt must always be in favor of the athlete," Weiss said.
Semenya's rivals said they tried not to dwell on the issue before the race.
"I've heard a lot of speculation, but all I could do was just keep a level head and go about my business," Meadows said. "If none of it's true, I feel very sorry for her."
One thing not in doubt was Semenya's outstanding run.
"Nobody else in the world can do that sort of time at the moment," Meadows said. "She obviously took the race by storm."
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Her dominating run came on the same day track and field's ruling body said she was undergoing a gender test because of concerns she does not meet requirements to compete as a woman.
Semenya took the lead at the halfway mark and opened a commanding lead in the last 400 meters to win by a massive 2.45 seconds in a world-leading 1 minute, 55.45 seconds. Defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei was second and Jennifer Meadows of Britain was third in 1:57.93.
After crossing the line, Semenya dusted her shoulders with her hands.
A gender test has been ordered, officials say, not because Semenya is suspected of cheating by having had a sex change operation, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips, but to determine whether she has what's being called "a medical condition."
"I don't know who said it... I don't give a damn about it," Semenya told a television crew after the race.
About three weeks ago, the international federation asked South African track and field authorities to conduct the verification test. Semenya had burst onto the scene by posting a world-leading time of 1:56.72 at the African junior championships in Maruitius.
Her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice sparked speculation about her gender. Ideally, any dispute surrounding an athlete is dealt with before a major competition. But Semenya's stunning rise from unknown teenage runner to the favorite in the 800 happened almost overnight. That meant the gender test - which takes several weeks - could not be completed in time.
Before the race, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies stressed this is a "medical issue, not an issue of cheating." He said the "extremely complex" testing has begun. The process requires a physical medical evaluation and includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, internal medicine specialist and gender expert.
South Africa team manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane would not confirm or deny that Semenya was having such a test.
"We entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way," Mlangeni-Tsholetsane said. "Our conscience is clear in terms of Caster. We have no reservations at all about that."
Although medals will be awarded for the 800, the race remains under a cloud until the investigation is closed, and Semenya could be stripped of the gold depending on the test results, IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss said.
"But today there is no proof and the benefit of doubt must always be in favor of the athlete," Weiss said.
Semenya's rivals said they tried not to dwell on the issue before the race.
"I've heard a lot of speculation, but all I could do was just keep a level head and go about my business," Meadows said. "If none of it's true, I feel very sorry for her."
One thing not in doubt was Semenya's outstanding run.
"Nobody else in the world can do that sort of time at the moment," Meadows said. "She obviously took the race by storm."
Popular in Sports
- Sergio Garcia apologizes to Tiger Woods for "fried chicken" remark
- Bay Area hosting 50th Super Bowl
- Study: College athletes denied $6.2B over four years
- Watch: 7-foot-5 teen basketball player dominates
- NFL's Top 100 Players of All-Time: Debate
- Upset at the Preakness Stakes
- No Olympic wrestling? Sport nixed from 2020 Games
- Watch: Dodgers star makes cancer-stricken fan's day
As I said before why didn't check her out completely before she even started to run to make her feel badly in front of God and everybody else that is just not fair and that is a fact.
MAY GOD BLESS HER AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY NOW AND FOR ALL TIME AS I AM SURE HE WILL!!!
The problem here is actually the chin part of her face and the deep voice.
The reason may well be a natural one, it may be she was pushed with steroids before she started competing or it may be she is a fake. It is not only Africans who are/were gender-tested.
see http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/18/sportsline/main2275607.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody
And there were others in the past.
..SNIP..
The problem here is actually the chin part of her face and the deep voice. ..SNIP..
I see nothing wrong with the 'chin part of her face.' I see no 5 o'clock shadow or other hint that she may have to do away with a beard or mustache. Her chin is not as ugly as my late husband's daughter's chin is. Caster has a crooked smile that makes her face appear very different on the left as opposed to the right. There is nothing wrong with her smile or her face. She just doesn't fit the mold some people want, so they have to complain.
Perhaps more women shave them...