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S. African Track Star Told to Take Gender Test

Gender confusion has followed Semenya's meteoric success

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – The International Association of Athletics Federations has asked South African track star Caster Semenya to undergo gender testing, the BBC reports. The 18-year-old Semenya won the 800-meter final today at the World Championships in Berlin, just weeks after becoming African junior champion by smashing the South African record.

But her rise to fame has been shadowed by questions about her gender. “In the case of this athlete, following her breakthrough in the African junior championships, the rumors, the gossip was starting to build up," said Nick Davies, an IAAF rep. "The gender verification test is an extremely complex procedure,” Davies continued, adding that “the situation today is that we do not have any conclusive evidence that she should not be allowed to run."

FILE -- In this Monday Aug. 17, 2009 file photo South Africa's Caster Semenya competes in a Women's 800m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. The IAAF has asked the South African track federation to conduct a gender verification test on 800 meter runner Caster Semenya amid concerns...
FILE -- In this Monday Aug. 17, 2009 file photo South Africa's Caster Semenya competes in a Women's 800m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. The IAAF has asked the South African...   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)
FILE -- In this Sunday Aug. 16, 2009 file photo South Africa's Caster Semenya reacts after competing in a Women's 800m heat at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. The IAAF has asked the South African track federation to conduct a gender verification test on 800 meter runner Caster Semenya...
FILE -- In this Sunday Aug. 16, 2009 file photo South Africa's Caster Semenya reacts after competing in a Women's 800m heat at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. The IAAF has asked the South...   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)
FILE -- In this Monday Aug. 17, 2009 file photo South Africa's Caster Semenya pauses after competing in a Women's 800m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. The IAAF has asked the South African track federation to conduct a gender verification test on 800 meter runner Caster Semenya...
FILE -- In this Monday Aug. 17, 2009 file photo South Africa's Caster Semenya pauses after competing in a Women's 800m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. The IAAF has asked the...   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
bewilderbeast
Aug 20, 2009 10:06 AM CDT
My, my. So scientific. Lemme guess: You KNOW a whole lot of other things, too? Other people are so dumb - they should just ask you, cos you KNOW. Right?
fancygapva
Aug 20, 2009 4:55 AM CDT
or have that prominent an adam's apple
Reader68389796
Aug 20, 2009 1:18 AM CDT
OK, that is not a girl, period. And definitely not an 18 year old girl. That looks like a 24 year old man. That was not born a girl, sorry but no test can fool me. That can do all the hormone treatment it wants that was born a girl, period.

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