S. Africa Says Semenya Should Run As Woman

(AP)  South Africa's governing party wants champion runner Caster Semenya to compete as a woman regardless of any gender tests.

African National Congress party spokesman Jackson Mthembu said Monday that Semenya had been brought up as a girl and should therefore "continue to run as a woman."

Semenya won the 800-meter race at the world championships on Aug. 19 in Berlin in 1 minute, 55.45 seconds, finishing 2.45 seconds ahead of her closest competitor. It was the fastest time in the world this year. Before the final, track and field's ruling body said it had ordered gender tests.

The International Association of Athletics Federations ordered more tests done on the runner in Berlin, saying questions had been raised about her muscular physique and recent stunning improvement in times.

The IAAF has refused to confirm or deny Australian media reports that Semenya , saying it is reviewing test results and will issue a decision in November on whether the athlete will be allowed to compete in women's events.

The ANC has set up a group to support Semenya and says she has been "victimized and subjected to unnecessary public scrutiny."

Former President Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is to lead the support group. She is a prominent ANC figure and lawmaker.

[Anniemee]

What bothers me about this - what strikes me as unusual: I've never seen a woman with a washboard abdomen like Semenya has. I even went and studied some female bodybuilder photos to check on it and in all the photos I saw, women just don't have that kind of physique at all. Maybe I'm wrong about that. Semenya really looks like a man, very much so, IMO. Ultimately it's up for the medical people to determine what gender is dominant in Semenya's body. I do have compassion for her. I think this is a very unfortunate circumstance for her to endure these politics. A friend of mine has incomplete gender and it's been a very hurtful thing for my friend, even tho it's never been so public as what Semenya has been going through. I do wish that the politicians would stay out of it, because, IMO, campaigning isn't going to change what is. This is primarily a medical dilemma, isn't it?? For politicians to get involved seems inappropriate to me.

[dmwj2]

I agree... her testicular tissues are prodicing testosterone, and masculizing her body. On top of that, she is in a competetive sport, that enhances this masculization. If she were an average SA gal, and not competing in sports, she would probably look more "normal."

To be honest here, the family must have know that something was not right. She should have started menstrating at pre-teen to early teen years. Without a uterus and ovaries, that is not possible. Usually that is when this condition is discovered. When the onset of secondary female traits are delayed, most families seek medical guidance... They may not have sought that medical guidance... but it should have have discovered when she started playing competetive sports... as that would be part of a normal female physical examination..."when was your last period?... is it normal/regular?... do you have any problems with your period?" Do you see what I mean?

At any rate, as long as the testicular tissue is inside her body, she has a greater risk for cancer. She should have it removed.

[credibility2]

It's the XY DNA and testosterone that gives this runner the advantage and therefore places XX DNA 100% genetic females at the disadvantage. No XX DNA 100% genetic females should agree to run alongside this DNA abnormality. These races are about like, similar, comparable and this runner isn't any of these.

[dmwj2]

Cred... I have to disagree with you here... it IS the testosterone, but not the XY anomoly. I think it was brought out in other articles that the XY or XX anomoly in men and women is not a credible determining factor.

[barbaram99]

The story saids the person was RAISED as a girl. Females and males are different in mind and body.
I see a male holding the flag. The brain may be female.
My roommate has a male body and a female brain. My friend can't body wise pass and live as a female. I told my friend when I hear ye it is male. I go by voice as it is male or female. They have always been so. So should we add a new term to fit those persons, It is a medical issue that is no help if the person is poor and they did not asked to be born the why they are. They are not fully male nor fully female. I am fully female. Dr Richards could not play against women as the eye doc went from male to female. I can 't play against the sighted as I am legally blind.

[liselle3]

How completely sad that we as the public should have ever been privy to her privates (no pun intended). Come on, is nothing personal, private or sacred?

[credibility2]

Grow up and stop the kumbaya bit. This is legitimate argument in international sports.

[dmwj2]

I agree with Cred... the officials have to keep the playing field level. She has a natural source of testosterone, that is know to masculize the female body, and offer and unfair advantage over other women.

That being said... I offer this advice to Miss Castor... have the testes surgically removed, primarialy due to health concerns. It is a medical fact that males and females with un-descended and/or internal testicle tissues have a greater risk for testicular cancer. Although Miss Castor's testes are producing testosterone, they are not where they are supposed to be, and pose a significant health risk.

Miss Castor, I suggest that you have the testicle tissue removed, undergo estrogen treatments (this will further femenize your body), and continue competing as a woman, as you will then be just as a woman that has had her uterus and ovaries removed. As your body is further feminized, you will have to work harder... but I think you will do well.

[justsane-2009]

sadly, i don't think that this young person will ever race on the world stage again. too male to run with the women, yet not fast enough to run with the men...

[maryderricotte62]

Ms. caster has a vagina, and there are many women with no breast, fallopian tubes and female organs. We don't even know how mant women who have facial hair have testicles. So since we have not divied the line be fore to day should should still run as a woman she can;t run as a man because she is not. This may be evolution taking place lets not stay in the stone ages as man does not know everthing about life or the human body we are still learning and defining ourselves. I believe in science and the gender issue is not cut and dry as many would think.

[bobnjersey]

[Ms. caster has a vagina, and there are many women with no breast, fallopian tubes and female organs. We don't even know how mant women who have facial hair have testicles. So since we have not divied the line be fore to day should should still run as a woman she can;t run as a man because she is not.]

let them create a new category w/ these questionable attributes ... and she can run in that category.

[DaVicar8]

We had the same problem in America, when we couldn't decide if Barrack Obama should run as a Christian or a Muslim.

[credibility2]

You're hilarious. Thanks for the comic relief!

[photolex]

I believe that Semenya has been victimized by the media. Still, if the reports are true, that is not justification enough to allow her to continue competing as a female. I use the pronoun "her" because, as the SA officials noted, she was raised as a girl. Allow her to continue referring to herself as a girl, but do not allow her to compete against other women. Apparently her in-between physiology gives her an unfair advantage.

[displeased]

African National Congress party spokesman Jackson Mthembu said Monday that Semenya had been brought up as a girl and should therefore "continue to run as a woman."

It doesn't matter she was raised as a girl. If she has testicles that are producing a high amount of testosterone, then she has an unfair advantage over women athletes. If she has both male and female organs, then she shouldn't be labeled a women.

[SusanStoHelit]

She has testicles that are producing LOW amounts of testosterone. Her levels are too high for a woman - but too low for a man. There's no spot where she fits.

She was raised as a woman, she has a half and half body - it's not an easy decision to make, because the only thing they can do is ban her from playing any gender differentiated sport - or - allow unfair competition to other women and maybe encourage other mixed gender cases to take up sports and demolish the women's sporting fields.

[erasmus111]

by displeased October 5, 2009 3:33 PM EDT
It doesn't matter she was raised as a girl. If she has testicles that are producing a high amount of testosterone, then she has an unfair advantage over women athletes. If she has both male and female organs, then she shouldn't be labeled a women.


She can label herself whatever she wishes, but no, she should not be able to run with the women again. It is an unfair advantage. I do believe, however, that she should be able to keep the medal she has won. If they had a question about whether she was a man or women, it should have been looked into BEFORE she ran. They didn't, so the medal is hers. Now if they can prove that she knew, then that is a different matter.