Reports claim Caster Semenya is a hermaphrodite
Although the IAAF is declining to officially reveal the results of medical testing as of yet, several news outlets are reporting that leaks indicate embattled South African runner Caster Semenya may be disqualified due to ambiguous gender.
Semenya took the running world by storm with several unprecedented performances in July and August, but was the subject of international speculation after she was forced to undergo testing to determine whether she had an hormonal advantage. Now sources claim the results reveal the presence of “internal testes” as well as several times the amount of testosterone normally present in a female.
If verified, the claim presents an interesting conundrum for athletic officials in dealing with intersexed people. Technologies that detect more subtle gender differences have improved by leaps and bounds and now the question remains as to whether a significant portion of the population will be entirely excluded from competition due to the way they were born. For their part, the IAAF is handling the situation with discretion pending discussion of the results with Semenya:
Mr Davies said: ‘We have the final results from the specialist tests carried out in Germany.
Enlarge
‘It’s a joke’: Caster posed for a glamorous photo-shoot in a South African magazine this week
‘These now need to be interpreted by a panel of experts drawn from the IAAF Medical Commission and some outside specialists as well.
‘It is likely that we will be in a position to then discuss the results, in private, with Semenya, and decide on the course of action and any public announcement.
‘Nothing will therefore be announced or confirmed until we are in a position to have the expert evaluation of the results, and discuss them with the athlete.
‘We cannot give an exact timing but probably within the next couple of weeks.
Mr Davies said: ‘We have the final results from the specialist tests carried out in Germany.
‘These now need to be interpreted by a panel of experts drawn from the IAAF Medical Commission and some outside specialists as well.
‘It is likely that we will be in a position to then discuss the results, in private, with Semenya, and decide on the course of action and any public announcement.
‘Nothing will therefore be announced or confirmed until we are in a position to have the expert evaluation of the results, and discuss them with the athlete.
‘We cannot give an exact timing but probably within the next couple of weeks.’
[Source: Daily Mail, Image: The Frisky]
