Thaindian News

By Ranjan Bhaduri
Some sections of the media have recently reported that runner Caster Semenya of South African origin, the reigning women’s 800m world champion, has both male and female characteristics in terms of sex organs.

Reportedly this 18 year old champion runner, who won the gold medal in the 800m women’s event recently at Berlin, has got testes which produces testosterone. Strangely enough it is also been alleged that Semenya has no ovaries at all.

The IAAf or the International Association of Athletics Federations on its part has neither agreed with nor denied the reports which came out in the Aussie media. The IAAF on its part has issued one statement which read, “We would like to emphasize that these [reports] should not be considered as official statements by the IAAF.”

The IAAF has gone onto mention in the statement that, “We can officially confirm that gender verification test results will be examined by a group of medical experts.” It has also mentioned that it would not announce any final decision until it “has had the opportunity to this complete examination”. They expect, they would be able to reach a final decision towards the end of November this year, at their scheduled Council meeting at Monaco.

Semenya is not the first case of this kind in the world of athletics. Before her Santhi Soundarajan, an athlete of Indian origin who was the women’s 800m champion at the Asian games-2006, was also found to be suffering from “inter gender” conditions. Santhi’s medal was stripped off and it was reported that out of mental pain and anguish she had attempted suicide. Santhi on her part seems to be empathetic towards Semanya’s alleged condition as she goes onto mention that the public, media and authorities should do nothing which “humiliates” Semanya.