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| -Short Attention Span Theater- | |
| Is she really a HE? | |
| 2009-08-19 | |
The gold medal favourite in tonight's women's 800m World Athletics Championships race is today facing claims that she is really a man. South African Caster Semenya, 18, is set to race in tonight's final in Berlin after sailing through a semi-final on Monday in her first major international sporting competition. But the teenage sensation has sparked controversy over her strikingly muscular physique. Today officials at the world athletics body, the IAAF, revealed that it ordered her to take a gender test three weeks ago. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies confirmed the tests were taking place, though he said the results would not be confirmed for several weeks. Until the results are confirmed, there is nothing to prevent Semenya from competing in tonight's final, he said. He added: 'At this moment in time we do not have any evidence to stop her running.' South African athletics chiefs furiously denied the claims and stated Semenya was definitely female. Molatelo Malehopo, general manager of Athletics South Africa, said: 'She is a female. We are completely sure about that and we wouldn't have entered her into the female competition if we had any doubts. We have not been absent-minded, we are very sure of her gender. We are aware of the claims that have been made but our aim at the moment is to prepare Caster for the race this evening.' Semenya was ordered to take the test after raising suspicion during an incredible performance at a junior championship. The teenager, from Polokwane in South Africa's Limpopo province, burst onto the running scene at last month's African Junior Championship in Mauritius where she clocked 1:56.72 in the 800 metres. The time was the best recorded in the world so far this year by more than a second. Mr Davies revealed that Semenya's astoundingly quick performance prompted suspicions over her gender. Experts were concerned over the way she runs and urged the South African athletics body to test her. A group of doctors, including an endocrinologist, a gynaecologist, an internal medicine expert, an expert on gender and a psychologist, have started the procedure but it is uncertain when the results will be known. The complex process could take several weeks to be complete. 'It would be wrong today to take a decision to withdraw an athlete,' said Mr Davies. He added that Semenya is not being accused of cheated, and emphasised the test is not compulsory. 'This is a medical condition,' he said. 'It is nothing that she has done. There is a need to make sure rules are followed. We are more concerned for the person and not to make this as something that is humiliating.' | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #8 I'd recommend TuccusTucker™ tape. The brand "she" is using isn't working. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-08-19 21:45 |
| #7 Well (s)he still looks better than those Soviet weightlifting "women" |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2009-08-19 21:42 |
| #6 Lady looks like a dude. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2009-08-19 21:38 |
| #5 There's 2 seconds of my life I'll never get back.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-08-19 19:42 |
| #4 S(he) definately looks different than the rest of the (female) runners. |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2009-08-19 18:48 |
| #3 Gad zooks!!!!! I wish I hadn't seen that. |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2009-08-19 18:42 |
| #2 Here ya go: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1207653/Womens-800m-gold-medal-favourite-Caster-Semenya-takes-gender-test-hours-World-Championship-race.html |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-08-19 16:13 |
| #1 No link. |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2009-08-19 13:31 |