Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Semenya Ban Would Start World War III: S. Africa

Sports minister steps up defense of racing champ

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 11, 2009 1:47 PM CDT

(Newser) – South Africa’s sports minister threatened “the third world war” if Caster Semenya is barred from competing in women’s sporting events because of the results of a sex test, the BBC reports. Such a decision “would be totally unfair and totally unjust,” said the official. “We would go to the highest levels in contesting such a decision.”

The test results won't be released until November, but Australian reports say they will show that Semnya is a hermaphrodite, meaning she has female and male traits. The gold medal she won at the World Championships is likely secure, but she could be barred from competition. It's also possible she could compete again if she consents to treatment.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this Aug. 19, 2009, file photo, South Africa's Caster Semenya celebrates after winning the gold medal in the final of the Women's 800m at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 file photo, South Africa's gold medal winner Caster Semenya displays her medal after the ceremony for the Women's 800m final at the World Athletics Championships... (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Caster is a woman, she remains our heroine. We must protect her.
- Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, South African Sports Minister

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 13 comments

bewilderbeast

Sep 15, 2009 10:38 AM CDT

This poor girl has some seriously toxic "friends" - mostly politicians and sports officials in South Africa. I hope she survives them. She also has medical issues, but those will be easier to sort out. In fairness to the other female athletes, because of the rules that restrict who can compete as a female, the medical issues have to be sorted out before she can compete again. The stupid reference to World War 3 was a stupid politician's way of saying: We will milk this for all its worth so we don't have to get down the real business of running a country.

Rocket448

Sep 13, 2009 5:56 AM CDT

I know far too much about this person's physical/biological/reproductive stuff. Whoa, already. But just in general, what are we to think about a person who isn't completely a woman, but who competes as such in international sporting events? Is that truly fair to the other woman who aren't equipped with testosterone-bolstered musculature and stamina? Oh, there are all sorts of questions about this development. I just want to stop thinking about them.

Reader68389796

Sep 12, 2009 2:34 AM CDT

what a bunch of ccs here. you know how many women in the world today have high levels of testosterone in them. As long as they prove she is female then there should not be a problem. These women who have to run against her are the complainers, why not go and train and beat her and stop complaining. I thought women wants equal rights with men? Now let's see you go up against Semenya?

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

BBC (Source Grid »)

Sports • Health • World

gender • sports • sex • South Africa • hermaphrodite • IAAF • track and field • Caster Semenya

More Newser Stories

Runners Furious Over Caster Semenya's Return

Complain of 'literally running against a man'

(NEWSER) - Though she's only been training seriously for a month, Caster Semenya sailed to victory in the 800m yesterday in Berlin, prompting resentment among her female competitors. "Even if she is a female, she's on the very fringe of the normal athlete female biological composition from what I understand of hormone testing," said Canadian Diane Cummins, who finished eighth. "So, from that perspective, most of us just feel that we are literally running against a man." More»

Caster Semenya Wins in Return to Track

South African teen missed 11 months while undergoing gender testing

(NEWSER) - Caster Semenya won the 800m at a minor meet tonight in Finland, her first competition since the IAAF cleared the South African teen to compete as a woman . Looking happy and relaxed, she comfortably dealt with a larger-than-usual crowd and massive media contingent, the Guardian reports . "I felt more and more comfortable as I started to do my thing," she said after running a relatively poky 2:04.22—nearly 10 seconds slower than the time that won the world championship a year ago. More»

Semenya Not Picked for South Africa Team

Despite IAAF permission, won't race in Kenya on July 28

(NEWSER) - Though the IAAF cleared her for competition last Tuesday, Caster Semenya's year-long absence from racing still isn't over: The women's 800m world champion has been left out of South Africa's team for the African Championships on July 28 in Kenya, after the country's athletic group determined she wasn't in good enough shape for it after her long break from racing. The 19-year-old will now work towards the Commonwealth Games in India in October. More»

Semenya Cleared for Women's Races

She has been undergoing 'treatment'

(NEWSER) - The International Association of Athletics Federations has cleared South African runner Caster Semenya to compete in female races following an investigation into her gender, reports the Telegraph . Semenya, 19, hasn't competed since her runaway 800 meter win in the World Championships nearly a year ago while sports authorities made their determination. It's believed that Semenya has been under treatment during that time for an inter-sex condition, which may have an impact on her future performance. She could compete again as early as this month in the World Junior Championships in Canada. More»

Angry Semenya: I'm Coming Back

Says her human rights have been violated

(NEWSER) - Tired of waiting around for the results of the IAAF tests that will determine her eligibility to compete as a woman, Caster Semenya is returning to competition, and she's angry. The South African runner said yesterday that investigations following her 800m win at last summer's World Athletic Championships have "infringed on not only my rights as an athlete but also my fundamental and human rights including my rights to dignity and privacy," the Guardian reports. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Semenya Ban Would Start World War III: S. Africa