Champ Runner May Have Male, Female Organs

(CBS/ AP)  The IAAF said Friday it has received the results of gender tests on South African runner Caster Semenya but is still reviewing them and will not issue any final decision until November.

The International Association of Athletics Federations did not confirm or deny Australian newspaper reports that the recently crowned women's world 800-meter champion has male and female sexual organs.

"We would like to emphasize that these should not be considered as official statements by the IAAF," the federation said in a statement regarding the reports that first appeared in News Limited and Fairfax newspapers.

The Australian newspaper reported in its Friday edition that medical reports on the 18-year-old Semenya indicate she has no ovaries, but rather has internal male testes, which are producing large amounts of testosterone.

That, notes CBS News Correspondent Mark Phillips, might explain Semenya's deep voice and masculine build.

"We can officially confirm that gender verification test results will be examined by a group of medical experts," the IAAF said in a written statement. "No decision on the case will be communicated until the IAAF has had the opportunity to complete this examination. We do not expect to make a final decision on this case before the next meeting of the IAAF Council which takes place in Monaco on November 20-21."

At a news conference in Greece on Friday, IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss, IAAF vice president Sergei Bubka and other association officials refused to make any comment on the Semenya case and distributed the IAAF's written statement to reporters.

The IAAF officials are in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki for this weekend's World Athletics Final.

After dominating her race at the world championships in Berlin last month, Semenya underwent blood and chromosome tests, as well as a gynecological examination.

Earlier, in an e-mail to The Associated Press, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said Thursday he couldn't confirm the Australian news reports.

"I simply haven't seen the results," Davies said. "We have received the results from Germany, but they now need to be examined by a group of experts and we will not be in a position to speak to the athlete about them for at least a few weeks.

"After that, depending on the results, we will meet privately with the athlete to discuss further action."

Semenya's father, Jacob, expressed anger when contacted by the AP on Friday morning, saying people who insinuate his daughter is not a woman "are sick. They are crazy."

He said he had not been told anything by the IAAF, Athletics South Africa or his daughter.

"I know nothing," he said.

In South Africa, Caster Semenya is "being celebrated as a world-beater," correspondent Phillips points out.

South Africa's sports minister says he is shocked and disgusted with the media stories circulating around the world about the results of the gender tests on Semenya.

Makhenkesi Stofile said Friday he feels let down by IAAF and their
handling of the matter.

Stofile, speaking at a press conference, said he has no doubts
about Semenya's gender. "She's a woman, she remains our heroine. We must protect her," he said.

Davies said the newspaper's report "should be treated with caution."

The IAAF has said Semenya probably would keep her medal because the case was not related to a doping matter.

"Our legal advice is that, if she proves to have an advantage because of the male hormones, then it will be extremely difficult to strip the medal off her, since she has not cheated," Davies wrote to the AP. "She was naturally made that way, and she was entered in Berlin by her team and accepted by the IAAF. But let's wait and see once we have the final decision."

[toldyouso21]

There was a woman in the town I grew up in who was a hermaphrodite. She had 3 kids. Ergo--she had a vaginnnna, a uterus and ovaries and produced children. They say she also had a peniz about 3 inches long but no testes. Some might say she was not a woman, but in producing children, she was as much a woman as any other woman.

[toldyouso21]

The great thing about a hermaphrodite (especially one with undescended testes) is that she can choose her orientation and indulge. This lady 'chose' to be and honor her womanhood--now everyone else should leave her alone, respect and honor her choice and accept that for all intents and purposes, this was a woman who lived as a female all of her life and like many females has a higher proportion of testosterone--SO WHAT? Then she won a few medals running races? That is great for all womankind.

Bravo to Caster! We women salute and embrace you and given that most hermaphrodites have functioning vaginas--everyone back off, mind your own business and what is between your own legs and leave this girl to mind hers!!!

[soph34-2009]

If her having both male/female chromosomes is proven to be true she should be disqualified and no longer allowed to compete. This would show the same unfair advantage as a women taking steroids to improve performance, irregardless of whether she was born this way or not.

[seafang]

Well it seems fairly clear to me. Currently sports competitions ar held with contests for only two differnet sexes; those being female (XX0 and male (XY), and no events are held for any other genders of the many others that are recognized by such as US anti-discrimination laws.
I don't have a problem with offering races or contests for any other gender; but I don't think it is fair to mix genders in any single contest; when it is well understood that that gives an unfair advantage or disadvantage to someone in that race.

As to whether "it" should keep its medal; I would leave that till it is determined whether this situation was set up deliberately by someone, or not.

But I have a hard time believing the individual involved was unaware of the problem; I'm quite certain that somebody already knew.

[butterflytiger22004]

She's 18 leave her and I do mean her be. How would you feel if you were 18 and found out you had overies

[bubbadubba]

In a world where women demand and deserve equal rights, why do we do we not allow them to compete in the same events as men? That would do away with all this gender silliness.
I say give women equal rights, make them equal to men on the sports field, and let's see how well they do in the real world not their special little sports world made just for them.
I am sure Rosie, Ellen, and their friends would agree with me on this one since they demand equality and I say give it to them.
Equality for women now! No more segregation in sports!

[rational_1]

LOL - that'll be the day. The NOW feminists may be strident, loopy and love political correctness above all else... but even they aren't that delusional. Even they know deep down how this would play out. When the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team loses to a high school boys team, there isn't much chance the sensible shoe set will be in favour of mixing the sexes athletically. Why do you think they fought so hard for Title IX in the first place? They know they can't compete, at least not on this front. Must bug them to no end.

[HNKelley]

I am very saddened for this young lady having all this played out in the media like this. I am further saddened by the people who claim to feel bad for her, then express a need to strip her of her medal (and dignity).

This young lady grew up in a place with little to no access to the testing and education required to find such physical gender issues as she might have. Moreover, those claiming South Africa somehow did something wrong by not testing her for this are ridiculous, closed-minded fools. Why test for something you have no idea is there? It seems nobody knew. The public's reaction is a testament to the lack of information on this subject in the (supposedly) educated world... Yet you expect a Third-World nation to have all this information readily on hand and be actionable?!?

rf35 says, "No ovaries, not female." Sorry you're so misinformed, but gender is a continuum, not a black and white issue. Certainly, the vast majority of people fall into the well-defined categories of male/female, but even we have varying amounts of the involved hormones.

Whimwham claims Ms. Semenya has no ovaries and no womb. Where in this article is it stated that she lacks a womb? Please provide a link to the facts if they're not here. Though this is irrelevant... By Whimwham's logic, a woman who has a hysterectomy is no longer a female. Same as those with birth defects that cause these organs to be missing. Clearly, Whimwham's statement is wrong on this. Perhaps a better statement clarifying the thought and backing it with medical detail would make it more believable?

Whimwham goes on to claim Semenya needs "male gender acceptance orientation." What, exactly, is that? Is that the same "counseling" you would force homosexual through? I'd hate to live in your world! (I'm straight, by the way; I just can't stand ignorant closed-mindedness.) The only counseling she needs is due to the lambasting she's getting in the media!

Questionews seems to think Semenya's 6-pack abs don't exist on 'real' women. Talk about misinformed! Just Google for 'abs muscle women' and select 'images'. You'll be inundated with pics of women with chiseled abs (but be careful.. you'll also be inundated with less appropriate pics; if you don't want those, turn on Google's filter.)

What it all comes down to is this: she was born and raised as a girl, though with some male aspects due to a birth defect (is defect the best word here??). She did not cheat. If these are the facts, then she should keep her medal. Period. And many of you owe her an apology. South Africa is right to claim her as a heroin, their heroin.

[displeased]

Nice rant. However, it doesn't matter if he was raised as a female. If he has testicles that produce a large amount of testosterone, then that's an unfair advantage over the real women, regardless if he did it on purpose. If his defect makes him biologically a male, then he shouldn't be racing as a woman.

[HNKelley]

@displeased:
Except that it DOES matter how the person was raised. She (and I will continue using that moniker until a different one is proven needed) was supposedly raised as a female, raised thinking she is a female. If you awoke one day to the news that you were in fact a simian with a hair follicle disorder, would you want us to hold it against you that you've been acting as a human this entire time? I think not. Nor would I do so. Much of the world now adheres to the concept of innocent until proven guilty (or claims to). If it is proven that she is transgendered and/or taking steroids, then we can feel free to be offended. Until then, with the presumption of innocence, she is a she and is guilty of no offense. Even if it is proven that she has enough of the biology and hormones of a male to warrant changing her gender classification, she is still innocent of any wrongdoing unless and until it is proven she purposely defrauded the sports system and the public. If so, THEN feel free to be offended. And if no fraud was committed, but she is to be reclassified as a male, then sure, she (then a he) should compete against other males.

[Questionews]

frogger581

Why call me out for my comment. All I said was that she had some chiseled abs. I'm not sure why I would have to "get out more". The chick is chiseled! And no, I don't watch woman's body building. Not appealing in any way!

[frogger581]

Questionews you need to get out more.

Everyone needs to remember that in america we have a lot of advantages that the rest of the world doesnt. even the government of South Africa may not have access to the correct tools neccessary to identify innersexed individuals("innersexed" not "hermaphrodite", its a derogatory term just as if you called her the n-word). due to the information known at the time and the fact that she herself (because she has identified her entire life as a female, its up to herself, not others, to place a label) didnt know about her condition, she shoud keep her medal. she did not cheat. however, her future in track should probably be reconsidered, one can only deal with so much controversy

[Questionews]

Check out the 6-pack abs in the picture!! I have seen some very athletic women, but none with chiseled abs like that!