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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Semenya Ban Would Start World War III: S. Africa

Sports minister steps up defense of racing champ

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(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.

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

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20 comments
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RobN
Sep 11, 09 1:50 PM CDT
It would be totally unfair and unjust if a person who has three times the normal testosterone wasn't allowed to run against women of normal levels? The standard for starting WWIII is apparently pretty low in South Africa. Reply
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+5
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passinthru
Sep 11, 09 2:01 PM CDT
i think they meant within the arguments of semenya not actual war. that would seem a little far fetched.
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+1
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Serenity
Sep 11, 09 2:16 PM CDT
Who would be the recipient for WWIII? I would be more concerned to know if there were any negative medical effects of having that much testosterone. And the fact that the whole world now knows intimate details of this woman's body.
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
NoReallySeriously
Sep 11, 09 3:49 PM CDT
If you're taking this seriously as WWIII then you actually think that republicans citing the "nuclear option" means something is actually going to explode in congress?
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0
thudson
Sep 11, 09 1:54 PM CDT
leave her alone and let her compete. i've never heard something so ridiculous as a bunch of over-privileged bureaucrats claiming a south african hermaphrodite has an unfair advantage. Reply
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+4

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