South Africa threatens 'Third World War' after gender-row runner Caster Semenya is branded hermaphrodite

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 10:57 AM on 12th September 2009

 

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South African politicians have threatened a 'Third World War' over claims that teenage runner Caster Semenya is a hermaphrodite.

The 18-year-old underwent tests to determine if she really is a woman after becoming 800m world champion last month.

Last night, the country's sports minister, Makhenkesi Stofile, said her treatment by the International Association of Athletics Federations was 'disgusting' and argued that hermaphrodites have no scientific advantage.

 

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South Africa's Caster Semenya underwent tests to determine if she really is a woman after becoming 800m world champion last month

 

Asked what would happen if she was barred from competing in future events, he said: 'I think it would be the Third World War. We will go to the highest levels in contesting such a decision.

 

More...

 

 

• Wow, look at Caster go now! Gender-row runner gets chance to show she's all woman in new photoshoot
  
• South African coach of gender row runner Caster Semenya resigns because 'sex-tests were not explained to her'
  

 

'I think it would be totally unfair and totally unjust. This is unethical and disgusting'.

Officials earlier indicated that South Africa was investigating the possibility of helping Semenya sue the IAAF after the results of her gender tests were apparently leaked to a newspaper.

The International Association of Athletics Federations, which ordered sex tests on women's world 800-meter champion Caster Semenya, has refused to confirm or deny Australian media reports that the tests show Semenya has both male and female characteristics.

 

The international body says it is reviewing the results and will issue a final decision in November on whether Semenya will be allowed to continue to compete in women's events.

 

 

Controversy: Caster Semenya on the cover of You Magazine

 

'She is going to be dominating the debate today,' Athletics South Africa President Leonard Chuene said.

 

Chuene said he and other officials would review, among other issues, his decision to withdraw from the IAAF board, which South Africa accuses of mishandling the Semenya case by violating its own rules that such matters be handled privately.

 

Results of the ASA deliberations will be announced Sunday, Chuene said.

ASA-IAAF relations have been severely strained by the Semenya affair, but Chuene said Saturday, 'We don't fight them. We just want to deal with the matter.'

 

Chuene said he withdrew from the IAAF board because 'you can't sit there, denying and fighting.' But he acknowledged a seat on the board might make it easier to defend Semenya's interests.

 

Chuene noted the IAAF had distanced itself from the reports in the Sydney Daily Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald that have angered everyone from President Jacob Zuma to school children in Semenya's home village in northern South Africa.

 

Semenya won the 800 in Berlin on Aug. 19 by 2.45 seconds in a world-record 1:55.45.

 

Her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice had sparked the speculation about her sex, and the IAAF announced the day of the 800 finals that tests had been ordered.

 

 

Enlarge Semenya waves as she thanks her fans during a parade in the town of Polokwane

 

On Friday, South African Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile called a news conference to expressed his horror at the question of the 18-year-old's sex being debated publicly, and Zuma told reporters the media had exploited Semenya.

 

In Ga-Masehlong, the village where Semenya was born, and the neighboring village of Fairlie where she went to high school, there was anger and confusion.

 

Villagers wondered aloud whether what they had heard on TV could be true, and about the emotional toll it could take on a teenager to see headlines declaring she had both male and female sex organs.

 

'Caster is a woman. I don't like having to hear people from outside saying otherwise. Here in our village it doesn't sit well with us,' said 18-year-old Mapula Phano, who went to high school with Semenya. 'The stuff they have been saying about her could destroy her confidence.'

 

Erina Langa, a neighbour, said she has been impressed by how Semenya has behaved in the last few, difficult weeks.

 

'She is very, very, very brave,' Langa said. 'She's like her grandmother, she's a tough lady. Anything that she wants, she can do it. She trusts herself.'

 

Semenya, who is a university student in Pretoria, the capital, dropped out of sight on Friday.

 

 

Semenya greets the crowd during the street parade to celebrate her return to her home town of Masehlong village in Polokwane, South Africa

 

Her coach, Michael Seme, said she would not take part in a 4,000-meter race at the South African Cross Country Championships in Pretoria on Saturday because she was 'not feeling well.'

 

Her younger sister was alone Friday at the family home in Ga-Masehlong, curled up on a verandah that just last month was packed with relatives and friend's celebrating Semenya's victory in Germany.

 

Asked if she wanted to speak, 16-year-old Mkele hid her face in her arms. A neighbour brushed past, saying only: 'I'm not happy.'

 

Visitors at the home of her grandmother, Maputhi Sekgala, in nearby Fairlie found the gate padlocked. Neighbours said Sekgala had gone to another village for a funeral.

 

Sekgala has been among Semenya's most exuberant supporters. She broke into a traditional praise poem at an airport news conference when the champion returned from Germany, and spoke on behalf of the family at an Aug. 28 celebration in Ga-Masehlong.

 

'It can only be jealousy that makes them say that she is a man,' Sekgala was quoted Friday in The Times, a Johannesburg daily, as saying. 'I raised her as a 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.'

 

Semenya's father was angry when contacted on Friday, saying people who say his daughter is not a woman 'are sick, they are crazy. Are they God?'

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1212869/Third-World-War-threat-gender-row-runner-Caster-Semenya.html#ixzz0QtGtthSw

Wow! Are these people being serious, or were the "politicians" just a little mad? I think that its a little over the top to say things like this when it comes to a track race and a gender question.

 

Whenever I look at the... uh.. girl? I see a man, but I see a lot of people like that now days :rolleyes:

 

If she is a hermaphrodite, what will they do? Is there any scientific evidence behind having both reproductive organs that make you better when it comes to endurance and such? I can understand that if she were a man, he would be disqualified... but a hermaphrodite.... that's gonna be a tough one. :)

Lol'd at the title.

 

I honestly can't see her as a hermaphrodite. Looks 100% man to me.

Wow! Are these people being serious, or were the "politicians" just a little mad? I think that its a little over the top to say things like this when it comes to a track race and a gender question.

 

Whenever I look at the... uh.. girl? I see a man, but I see a lot of people like that now days :rolleyes:

 

If she is a hermaphrodite, what will they do? Is there any scientific evidence behind having both reproductive organs that make you better when it comes to endurance and such? I can understand that if she were a man, he would be disqualified... but a hermaphrodite.... that's gonna be a tough one. :)

 

It would give the athlete an unfair advantage owing to the presence of too much testosterone, I'd say.;)

Lol'd at the title.

 

I honestly can't see her as a hermaphrodite. Looks 100% man to me.

 

That's why it would have been more appropriate to refer to this person as a hismaphrodite......................... :rolleyes:

She should not be barred from further competitions.

She should not be barred from further competitions.

 

If "she" is proven to have too much testosterone, she would have to be, as it's unfair on the rest of the field (and there are strict rule about having too much testosterone).

She could of course be allowed to run against the men, though.;)

Mark, but how would she beat the men. Obviously she would not be able to. I am sure that men would have more testosterone than she. It seems unfair either way. I still think she should get to compete as a woman. She identifies as female.

Mark, but how would she beat the men. Obviously she would not be able to. I am sure that men would have more testosterone than she. It seems unfair either way. I still think she should get to compete as a woman. She identifies as female.

 

Well she definitely didn't run like one. That race was a total farce and made a total mockery of the World Championships.:dozey:

That dozey smilie is my favorite. Which group do you think she should run in then. Too good for the ladies. Too weak for the men.

That dozey smilie is my favorite. Which group do you think she should run in then. Too good for the ladies. Too weak for the men.

 

The point is, it has to be fair to the other women, otherwise you might just as well let them all inject themselves with testosterone, as happened in the Eastern Bloc back in the Eighties.

Some of the records from then still stand, when everyone knows there was something fishy going on.;)

Good point. I just feel bad for her. She has a passion for the sport and is damn good at it. I hope she gets to compete, in one form or another:)

Good point. I just feel bad for her. She has a passion for the sport and is damn good at it. I hope she gets to compete, in one form or another:)

 

Well I reckon if "he" trains hard enough, he might be able to mix it with the other guys at some point.;)

Well I reckon if "he" trains hard enough, he might be able to mix it with the other guys at some point.;)

 

Mark, you know that would never work. :)

that's not equitable to her either.

her situation is very unique.

Mark, you know that would never work. :)

that's not equitable to her either.

her situation is very unique.

 

Then they would have to introduce a "hermaphrodite" category, which clearly wouldn't work.:dozey:

:laugh3:

You are right about that.

She should stay in the female group. That is who she indentifies with.

:laugh3:

You are right about that.

She should stay in the female group. That is who she indentifies with.

 

Well she can't. Otherwise you'd have to allow transsexuals to run in the women's events too.:dozey:

A transsexual is not the same as a hermaphrodite.

A transsexual is not the same as a hermaphrodite.

 

I didn't say they were. You implied that anyone should run in the group they "identify with".

I'm just showing this wouldn't work, as transsexuals would want to run as women, even though they would still be far too masculine for it to be fair.;)

 

By the way, did anyone notice that runner's name is Caster Semenya?? You just couldn't make it up, could you.................. :laugh3:

Then they would have to introduce a "hermaphrodite" category, which clearly wouldn't work.:dozey:

 

Exactly.

She should get to run with the ladies.

Exactly.

She should get to run with the ladies.

 

 

As I said, that simply isn't fair, so I'm afraid she's likely to be banned and stripped of her title, which is the right decision.

The distance by which she won that final was "freakish" to say the least, and she looked twice the size of the other runners, even though she's only 18.:stunned:

It has to be a fair playing field for everyone. If you ban the drug-takers, you have to ban her too.;)

As I said, that simply isn't fair, so I'm afraid she's likely to be banned and stripped of her title, which is the right decision.

The distance by which she won that final was "freakish" to say the least, and she looked twice the size of the other runners, even though she's only 18.:stunned:

It has to be a fair playing field for everyone. If you ban the drug-takers, you have to ban her too.;)

 

Although, you are right. I think it is wrong that she gets banned. I wish there was another way.

So which category would that beast Lady GaGa run in?

Although, you are right. I think it is wrong that she gets banned. I wish there was another way.

 

Me too. I do have sympathy for "her", but I think the South African Athletics Federation have brought the sport into disrepute by allowing things to get as far as they did.;)

Good point Mark. I guess we'll see how it pans out.