Champion Female Runner's Gender Tested

South African Caster Semanya' Muscular Frame, Deep Voice and Stunning Speed Lead to Medical Sex Test

(CBS/AP)  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."

[MEXpatriate]

How ironic is her last name, maybe it offers a clue. Sure miss the days when you could determine gender the old fashioned way, like lifting a puppy for a closer look. Is it a boy or a girl?

[carolhill814]

I just hope that everything comes out in the wash.

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!!!

[joetheplumer]

I just don't get it. In what does she look different from her opponents? They look the same to me. Since when atest is needed to prove the gender of a person. Just look at her naked and if she has something different from male and that look like the female organ she is a female. The remaining is not the business of the IAAF. Hoo! I forgot... she is African and runfaster that the others so she must be cheating.

[Snowhare]

Now, I am tending left and I was outraged when Mister Limbaugh used the word - but what you are doing here IS very much like "reverse racism".
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.

[gramto8]

by Snowhare August 21, 2009 3:57 AM EDT
..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.

[stinger1z]

I think she has been pumped up on steroids earlier in life while training and stopped taking them once it was time to compete so it would appear legit. Hairy armpits, mannish face, very muscular frame, might just want to say drop your shorts and end the debate.

[Snowhare]

As if hairy armpits were something especially male!
Perhaps more women shave them...

[rondivoo]

I know a young woman who is six feet, four inches tall with a thick, muscular manly build. Her voice is very deep. She is all woman, has never taken steroids or had any sexual manipulations. As a teenager, she was always thought to be male. I felt so sorry for her because when she went to go into the ladies' restroom, people would stare, women inside would get upset, and people would tell her to go to the men's room. We were with her and other teens at a church camp and I heard one of the female camp officials call her down and loudly instruct her to use the men's restroom.

[incog-nito]

"Her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice sparked speculation about her gender."

One word: Steroids.

[credibility2]

If the dna is xy, regardless of any surgical prodcedures to change gender, the individual would still be a male.

[sig40p229]

Does CBS really block the words ***** and ********?

[Snowhare]

As you see they do block ***** as well as ********.

[pw08-2009]

The running world has killed itself in my mind and holds no credibility. When I hear of someone breaking a record, I automatically believe it is because of some illegal and yet to be discovered substance...history has proven this time and again. I don't support or watch this sport unfortunately.

[enemkay]

gender-doping

[presjfk]

It sounds like she is taking steroids.

[roadysmom2]

Anne Coulter seems to have the same "medical condition" as Caster Semenya ...perhaps she/he should have the same tests?

[Oregon_State_OSU]

Ann Coulter is a Manley Man > she does not even make a pretty lipsitck lesbiannn.

South African Caster Semanya' she has a FANTASTIC 6 PACK AND SOME NICE Strong arms. Its the face and the Jaw that make me think twice. Some Black People a lot more the White people are more muscular and thicker then whites and some Black People are just genetically more Muscular. Thats the way God Made US so oh well do the tests on South African Caster Semanya' and the question will be ansered.

[RCC_Soldaten]

"We entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way," Mlangeni-Tsholetsane said.

I bet they do.

Fraud.

[rational_1]

Any guy here want to date her based on that picture? Didn't think so - so (s)he is almost certainly not biochemically female despite being genetically female. Now, what to do? Is it discrimination to ban her/him (whatever!) from competing against females based on biochemistry when the genetics line up appropriately? Should (s)he instead compete against men? How about a third (inter-sex/transgender) category? If this turns out like I think it will (some sort of medical condition that results in her being genetically female but biochemically male), where do we slot her/him (whatever!) in terms of athletic events? Should it be done on the basis of genetics or biochemistry? It's an interesting issue.

[picklepants7]

did anyone ever check bea aurther?

[carolhill814]

This is apples and oranges she had a deep voice from smoking please do not insult her.

If this person is half male and half female she shouldn't race in either race because she is stronger than the regular women and weaker than the regular men.

But don't forget she played with the boys in her own country so they didn't know either what she/he was then either.

The thing is they should have checked her/him out before she even raced the first race so this would have never happened and that is a fact.

[babooph]

Can we do Rush & Rove while we are at it-[not thet either could run].

[Snowhare]

Hey, now you are becoming misogynist!

[wxwizard1]

I guess it isn't always as straight forward as it would seem. There's a rare medical condition (not sure what they call it) where a person is born with male and female features. Apparently this happens during pregnancy where it begins as twins (one male, one female), but then something happens where they combine into one body. With the advent of DNA testing a number of these cases have been revealed. Anyone know what this condition is called?

[Snowhare]

Talking about an old greek word: Hermaphrodite
or in modern terms: intersexuality or, in PC terms: disorders of sex development (DSD)
Genetically speaking, we are talking about a chimera (also a greek word).
This might help further:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersexual#Chimerism
For other forms of intersexuality:
Some people who are intersexed, such as some of those with Klinefelter's syndrome and androgen insensitivity syndrome, outwardly appear completely female or male already, without realizing they are intersexed. Other kinds of intersex conditions are identified immediately at birth because those with the condition have a sexual organ larger than a ******** and smaller than a *****. Intersexuality is thought by some to be caused by unusual sex hormones; the unusual hormones may be caused by an atypical set of sex chromosomes.
or for a bit of strangeness:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Fairchild

Important for the discussion about a gender test ("one look at the right place" as the first poster said) is this sentence:
"Depending on the type of intersex condition, corrective surgery may not be necessary for protection of life or health, but for aesthetic or social purposes."

Also interesting in this sports context:
Erik Schinegger, alpine skier, seems to have been an intersexual.

[Snowhare]

Sorry, I forgot to say, my more longish quote was from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermaphrodite

[Snowhare]

and one more: the auto-censored words refer to the female and male organs of pleasure (starting with "cl" and "pe"

[OpinionatedCami]

Nobody is implying that she is a hemaprhodite. She was born female what they are testing to determine is whether she has congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Basically a hormone imbalance which has caused her to look and sound more masculine. This is why they are taking more steps than just giving her a gynocological exam and an ultrasound to see if she has a uterus. Whether or not she was born female is not the question, they are looking to strip her of her medal due to the idea that she has a genetic disorder which gives her an unfair advantage over the other women. She is a woman, genetic disorder or not. There are many women and men walking around with hormonal imbalances, some are more noticable than others. There are plenty of hairy, muscular, or women with deep voices, but they are still women, they are still able to become pregnant. Regardless of what her outer physical appearance looks like, she is a woman. There are manlier women who were also racing the difference is Caster does not arch her eyebrows, have flowing hair, or wear a full face of makeup. Last time I checked it was not against the law to be a tomboy or even a lesbian. Should she be punished for not fitting into the neat little box that society says she should fit in inorder for her to be recognised as a woman? If she was born female she is a woman, period. And I for one am outraged that they are dragging her through the mud like this. I also feel that it is unfair that they have the ability to strip someone of their medals, and ban them from competing based on a hormone imbalance, and not based on whether or not they are a female who was born female.

[futiliity]

It is known as Hermaphroditism.

[brianbwb-2009]

Strange, it would seem that a check would take little time at all, one look in the right place, a copy of medical records, and it should be done.

Can any one prove that she was taking banned substances?

Or is it just that the athletic community cannot accept a phenom, for some reason?

I know many females with deep voices, just as I know males with high voices, females with solid musculature as well as males without.

If it turns out that she is in fact totally female, what excuse will they try next? Doping? Will they apologize for insulting her is it turns out they are wrong, and will they make sure the apology receives the same media coverage as the accusation?

Just what are these so-called "requirements to compete as a woman"?

If she has had no gender reassignment operation, and possesses female genitalia, what else is there, long nails and hair?

[Snowhare]

There are several problems here:
1. Fraud in sports has come to be expected rather than presumed an exception
2. This person does actually look like many men I have seen and she sounds like many men I have heard.
3. Such a body and such a voice could not only indicate we have a man here, but if this person is a woman, the body and voice could be the results of steroid treatment.
4. All the things (body, voice, extraordinary performance) however suspicious they may be in a world full of doping and tricks, may actually be a natural coincidence and the poor woman would have undergone all this scrutiny for nothing.

But I think we better check. And if nothing fishy is found - all the better for Caster Semenya!

[Henri_Rochard]

I performed a rather un-scientific experiment of looking at several pictures of Caster Semenya.
To my eye, she looks to be a young lady, i.e., female.
I've met some very strong, very athletic women, both black and white, so the fact that Caster Semenya had a very muscular build doesn't automatically make her male.
I've also met some very flat-chested women, so again, her appearance doesn't necessarily make her male.