South Africa’s Caster Semenya won gold last night in the women’s 800m at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin. But sadly, that achievement has been over 5 0′clock shadowed by the debate raging around whether Caster is actually female.
In all honesty, she walks like a man, shaves like a man and has boobs… or… er, not…. like a man, so I can kind of see where they are coming from with these allegations, but it must be very distressing for him to have to go through all this. And all the more respect to her for keeping his mind on the job in hand and having the balls to convincingly win the race yesterday evening (although at one point it did look a bit willy or won’t she).
Caster Semenya at work: Note the dainty, feminine gold chain around her dainty, feminine neck
It seems likely now that Semenya will have to undergo some sort of blood or sperm test to determine that he is indeed, 100% female. This will involve a full on examination of her genetic make-up to ensure that he possesses only two sex chromosomes and that they are X and X. And not X and Y. Or Y and Y. Or any other combination of letters.
But why spend all this time, money and effort on complex laboratory tests when South Africa has (as ever) devised a simpler method of determining Caster’s gender? Step forward ‘SechabaO30′ whose comment on The Times article, for me, sums up most everything about South Africa:
SechabaO30 said at Aug 20 2009 1:51AM
why does it have to take months to verify that someone is a female because one must just take her skirt or trouser off and then remove her G-String or panty. If you see a penis arrest her for wasting time but if they find a vagina she must sue them on the spot for insult. It does not have to take months. Even my grandmother can do it.
See how SechabaO30 has not just come up with a straightforward gender test, but in addition has also given us full instructions on what should occur in the event of there being a surprise (or not) in Semenya’s “skirt or trouser”? And, in case any of us were wondering if it was a difficult test to administer, the affirmation that even SechabaO30’s grandmother could do it. Although, apparently the results of that little examination came as a shock to most of the village. And not least to SechabaO30’s granddad.
In all seriousness, it’s unfortunate that the story here is around Semenya’s gender and not around her fantastic performance in the race last night. She has done South Africa proud and that should be the big news here.
I’m sure the whole country will get behind her as she attempts to make it a unique double in the men’s 800m tomorrow evening.
24 Comments
Sperm tests – *chuckle
Proud, until proven, I guess. It was a good performance and a stunning win. I am hoping it all works out for her.
I kill me………
Emil > To be honest, if she does turn out to be male, 1:55 is a very ordinary time for the 800m.
Morticia > Don’t do that, dear. We’d miss you.
This made the BBC news last night, and I must confess I had the same thoughts as SechabaO30 on this one (as I tweeted last night)… a quick glance in Caster’s knickers would be a good place to start.
They screened Semenya’s race, and I must confess that my immediate thought was “wow, she looks *very* masculine!” I know it’s been 11 years since I last lived in SA… things can’t have changed that much, surely?!?
Helga Hansen´s last blog ..Vetting the petting
HH > Apparently, there’s a bit more to it than that, according to the IAAF anyway.
Maybe she has androgen insensitivity syndrome? This poor girl, I understand that it is not fair for her to run if she is not “female” whatever that is, but it has been handled so badly. I feel so bad for her.
po´s last blog .."The best things in life are free
Poor Lad. They should leave him alone..
I personally think tht this matter came out @ th right time. Jus imagin how it wud b if a persn ws 2 b told thoz news, “by parents”… I can’t tel hw she feels or wt she’s up 2 nw bt 1st let’s look @ th typical issue on th table. We all knw tht this ws prty much of a shock (South African holds a record). Mos of this work is based on wt we all wud feel, who wud b runnin 2 th other countries of th “so called” G-8 countries? Bt if Africa does th unezpected, we gotta get her, no matter wt! I feel 4 th ppl wh r 2 b stereotypin like this, I’m nt spkn 2 prtct her”Semenya”. I’m speakin out on th matter of wt WE as people follow, MALE eats wit MALES, FEMALE wit thm Females. Jus google th woman who beat a man in championships n thnk of hw ths has mas such a huge matter bt nw it’s made headlines lyk THE MODERN DICTATOR… Pleas ppl, gender isn’t jus abt wt we perceiv, bt also hw we respnd 2 th way we appear and behav 2wards others…
DW > He did his best.
Africa10111 > Just what you said, bro.
(Note to readers: Africa10111 speaks to us from the University of KwaZuluNatal – That’s SA’s future -right there.)
Gosh, things sure have changed in SA, women now look like men and there’s a new 12th official language!
I heard “her” on the radio today, condemning those who question “her” gender to hell (seriously). “Her” baritone made the threats somewhat threatening…
Rob > Nah. “Whine” has always been a mixture of Afrikaans and English. Nothing new there.
Jacques > Haha. She’s more masculine than most backheeling Ad Wizards I know… I’m not sure that SASCOCK [sic] should hand back the medal based on that statement, though.
P.S. Drinking the 2005 Ingwe Reserve as advised. Very pleasant.
I think the IAAF must test Usain Bolt too. He might be Kryptonian!
Oi! I’ll backheel you in the ladylumps, Rocket Boy.
lol, very funny review. Just looking at the photo, I think they might need to test most of the runners! but seriously, the fact this has got out in the press is ridiculous, poor woman – maybe she has just a very mamly woman, who has done far too much excercising and has a hormone imbalance
Appalling timing…great piece of writing though. Seems strange that when people do well, there are others that want the worst for them…in tennis, nobody questions Anthony…sorry Amélie Mauresmo. Nor the Williams Brothers…
Apparently this is not a gender issue, but rather one of racism if this article is to be believed: http://foxyurl.com/sqI
Delboy´s last blog ..P!nk
Emil > But at least he’s male.
AdWiz > Keep it tidy please or Rocketboy will be doing a Calum Davenport on you.
Mrs C > I have yet to see an attractive female middle distance runner. ( I loved Steve Cram’s hair)
Ant > I have questioned Serena’s gender quite a lot. But she does at least have big breasticles.
Delboy > I can see where thse comments came from, but unless the IAAF suddenly statrts going after Bolt’s Bits (c), they can go whistle on the racism claim.
I note that the women’s 10,000 (Kenya and Ethiopia taking 7 out of the top 8 placings) hasn’t prompted any gender investigations.
6k, if Semenya had been of Bulgarian, Romanian or East German stock, there would be no quastion about it – she would in all likelihood, be a he (what with the “vitamin” supplements and all).
I seem to remember around the time of the Sydney Olympics) that the Chinese swimming team were given “vitamin supplements” that boosted the female swimmers’ testosterone levels.
The remark I found mostdistasteful was the one from the SA Athletics Federation that said Caster was from a rural area and all the girls looked like that. Like Ms Hansen above, it has been some time since I was in SA but I’m pretty sure that the young African girls didn’t look like blokes when I lived there.
Henry Crun´s last blog ..In Which Gordoom Plays Pontius Pilate
Breaking news on Sky.
Caster Semenya has failed the 1st drugs test.
Her willy wouldn’t fit in the test tube..
Henry Crun > The whole incident has been handled very badly and insensitively by each and every organisation that has handled it.
Equally, however, if the question is there – and it definitely IS there – then it must be answered – insensitivities aside.
DW > Boo. Geddoff. You’re rubbish.
I agree, there is reason to question – she cut down her own times by 15 seconds in just one year and is now the world champion, (and to get to a time that hasn’t been touched by female runners in many many years – the current record still stands sine 1983 and she got close)
Alex´s last blog ..My Children Don’t Sing My Culture Anymore
Poor Caster I mean she is young to go through such. If you compare Semenya with Jarmila Kratocvilova who broke the record in 1983. I wasn’t there but there were no questions about her gender, she looks like VAN DAM. And for those out of the country who are asking if ladies have changed in SA what a stupid question.
be proud of your balls, let them drop low and accept the fact that you need to start acting like a dude – finally out in the open!
hang low!
3 Trackbacks
[...] Miles takes a tongue in cheek look at the issue: In all seriousness, it’s unfortunate that the story here is around Semenya’s gender and not [...]
[...] today that South African 800m World Champion Caster Semenya is planning ahead for the 2012 London Olympic games by setting up a training camp in the UK near [...]
[...] how easy it is to confuse people with this whole What gender are you? lark? No wonder Caster Semenya had them fooled for so [...]