South Africa threaten 'war' over Semenya

Eurosport - Sat, 12 Sep 08:54:00 2009

South Africa reacted angrily on Friday to a report that tests on its world champion runner Caster Semenya had found she was a hermaphrodite, threatening a "third world war" over the affair.

ATHLETICS 2009 SEMENYA IMAGO - 0

Athletics' governing body declined to confirm the report in Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper, which said the 18-year-old runner had both male and female sexual characteristics.

The IAAF said medical experts were examining the results of gender tests on Semenya, who won the women's 800 metres at last month's World Championships in Berlin. No decision would be taken until late November.

"I think it would be the third world war. We will go to the highest levels in contesting such a decision. I think it would be totally unfair and totally unjust," said Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile.

South African President Jacob Zuma decried the invasion of Semenya's privacy and what he called the violation of her rights, although neither he nor Stofile denied the report.

"I don't know why we should not respect the privilege between the doctor and the patient. Why, when the tests have been done, why was it published?" Zuma said.

The Telegraph report said tests had found Semenya had no womb or ovaries, but that she had internal testes, the male sexual organs which produce testosterone, and her levels of the hormone were three times that of a 'normal' female.

It said the IAAF was "ready to disqualify Semenya from future events and advise her to have immediate surgery because her condition carries grave health risks. They have also not ruled out stripping Semenya of her 800m world championships gold medal."

Semenya, who was due to compete in a cross country race in Pretoria on Saturday, in her first competition since claiming the world title, withdrew from the event. Semenya's coach Michael Seme said that she was not "feeling well."

Stofile told a news conference his ministry had "noted with shock and disgust" media reports on the test results, which the South African government had not yet received.

"The issue here is that this girl has undesirable levels of testosterone - what does it matter? That is neither here nor there. She does not have a womb - so what?," he said.

Nick Davies, spokesman for the International Association of Athletics Federations, said media reports on the gender test results should not be considered as official statements by the sports body.

"There is a Council on 21 November and this will be the opportunity to conclusively finalise a decision," he said.

Some South Africans have accused the IAAF of racism for ordering the gender tests on Semenya, saying her broad shoulders and imposing musculature are common in women's athletics.

The controversy may have touched a raw nerve in a country where race is still a highly sensitive issue after decades of apartheid, which ended in 1994.

The militant Youth League of South Africa's ruling African National Congress said in a statement: "Even if a test is done, the ANC YL will never accept the categorisation of Caster Semenya as a hermaphrodite, because in South Africa and the entire world of sanity, such does not exist."

Reuters

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  1. semanya has to proclaimed as the winner if not there­ should an another race for the hermaphrodites.

    From baghib, on Sat 19 Sep 6:30AM

  2. semanya has to proclaimed as the winner if not there­ should an another race for the hermaphrodites.

    From baghib, on Sat 19 Sep 6:30AM

  3. 1 Bobby Sands!!

    From Tom C, on Mon 14 Sep 2:20PM

  4. Anyone speaking against Semenya's very personal­ situation need not worry in this life, there is a­ special place reserved for you in HELL, Lol.

    From questn.whats.mankind.on.earthfor, on Sun 13 Sep 11:36PM

  5. why are we talking about Irish politics , this is about­ Atheltics. Johnny B and Free Ireland can you go and­ have s.ex somewhere else please , people who are­ interested in Athelitcs want to have a conversation ,­ not about midless violence that you two idiots are­ going on about. The world could careless about that­ shithole Northern Ireland and the petty violent @#$%­ that goes on there , time to wake up in the real word­ nutheads. I have been to NthIreland and I wasnt­ impressed.

    From Campbell, on Sun 13 Sep 8:43AM

  6. haha johnny the worm, pretendin his ex army on the­ internet, pitiful....... youd have to give me your­ own reason about why you hate the Irish before I knew­ what level to speak to you about it, you might know­ everything, you might know nothing, or anywhere­ inbetween........ if its about the bombings I­ understand, its a reason for sure, bombs are vile­ things, random, nothing good about bombs or grenades­ things like that, they shouldnt even exist, in­ reality you should picture the provos as assassins, ­ thats they were mainly

    as for meetin me, lol.... ­ never heard that one before either...... we'll see­ eh, I mean I already know how empty that is.... but­ Ive got to go through the motions of acknowledging it, ­ otherwise youll think you worried me a­ bit.............. carry on with that if ye like Im not­ fussed , ill reply to it if you do

    From 780, on Sat 12 Sep 10:56PM

  7. Listen miguel b!!! What the hell has you long rubbish­ story got to do with the price of CHICKENS in CHINA!!!­ you're a PoepHop!!!

    From Can-U-Shut-up-please!, on Sat 12 Sep 8:46PM

  8. I think most of the comments so far have simply been­ models of idicocy.
    A true hermaphrodite has both male­ and female sex organs present. it is possible she does­ have complete androgen insensitivity which used to be­ known as testicular feminizing syndrome. Treatment for­ that would be reoval of testes wherever they are-they­ usually are non functioning and constitute a future­ cancer risk and gender assignment as female.
    The IAAF­ should have handled this better and if the South­ African authorities had foreknowlege of this, they have­ exposed Semanyato unnecessary embarrassment and­ psychologic trauma. I expect readers to be more­ considerate/compassionate. If true, she has a­ congenital anomaly that is no fault of hers and has­ been raised as a female. Is she to have no life, no­ aspirations or dreams just because of this?

    From tiffy, on Sat 12 Sep 8:35PM

  9. Semen.....................ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ Strange name for a "female"

    From Viva Espana, on Sat 12 Sep 8:31PM

  10. Ive had tons of people say that to me..... " I was­ in the army and I went to Ireland blah blah".... ­ @#$%.... you wont be hard enough for that, youll­ have people think it if you can though....... Ive­ never mentioned the Provos on this particular site, ­ cos its probably wasted here........ and I dont know­ how yahoo would take it..... Ive only spoke of Ireland­ here............ never mind british army­ johnny......... tell me what do you think about­ Loyalists?

    From 780, on Sat 12 Sep 8:03PM

  11. Johhny whatever your number..............you are just­ pathetic. And so bigoted and ignorant you don't­ know who to hate and why, you just do!!!

    From Megan, on Sat 12 Sep 7:36PM

  12. what regiment was that johnny?

    From 780, on Sat 12 Sep 7:35PM

  13. stupid ira scum, u just piece lowlife, can i meet u­ sumwhereand kick te feck out of u, hope u not a @#$% ,­ i was in army, enjoyed kickng the eck out of scum like­ u

    From johnnyb69007, on Sat 12 Sep 7:18PM

  14. to cut a long story short seen as your mans Irish and­ youll probably know everything anyway lol......... I­ basically made a decision between right and wrong­ regardless of what anybody English thinks of me for­ it.......... the way I see it, English people either­ dont know the full story, and maybe have no interest­ or whatever.......... but the ones that know what I­ know, and still support what was done, I just­ think theres something seriously wrong with that, its­ a question of conscience, and some people just mustnt­ have one................ my conscience is clear now, I­ fully support anything Republican 100%, internet­ propaganda, being English and supporting Republicans­ is a massive slap in the face to Loyalists....... and­ I dont mind telling them what I think of them one bit, ­ I even enjoy it sometimes :p, it goes down­ brilliant with a lot of the Irish as well, they like­ me for it, Im like quite valuable to them in many­ many ways Ive been told, which feels good to know, ­ cos I like to help them as much as I can....... my­ conscience was cleared long ago.... I still do it now­ cos I still very strongly about it...... and Im pretty­ sure I always will

    From 780, on Sat 12 Sep 7:13PM

  15. In fact Semanya is suffering from a condition called­ testicular feminisation syndrome.. This is a true form­ of Hermaphroditism. Please leave her a lone

    From Augustine A, on Sat 12 Sep 6:43PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    #1272, I think you had the topic well in good order. I­ have had this artilces posted about her sexuality and­ the differences between the two sexes. Eurosport made­ it invalid.
    To be honest, human being are mere animals­ of higher order if the classification in the animal­ kingdom is adhered to. In Darwin theory a white man, if­ his theory of evolution is to be considered, then the­ affairs at hand would be brought to the right audience­ for education. Sexual differentiation is a complex­ process and the embryology of these differentiations­ are complex controlled by several factors-- As you­ rightly said in so called white society, these problems­ when presented at the early stages are managed to rear­ the affected individual to the appropriate sex. Usually­ easier to perform vaginoplasty than to lengthen the­ structures of the hemi -penis (Clitoris). So if semanya­ is reared on this order definitely she will have a­ reconstructed vagina either with bowels or if the­ sinogram showed a blind upper pouch remanant of the­ uterus, fallopian tubes etc, with stretching and­ dilatation and hormonal treatment, she will be reared­ as female.. In modern terms, either surogacy or any­ acceptable form of having one's family can be­ looked into.
    Because this issue involved a non white­ individual it has been over blown and the idea is to­ mare her success. Don't forget it was a British­ athlet who came second that triggered the whole­ affairs. South Africa should severe relations with­ Britain on this issue as they are the ones behind it..­ There is problem for this young lady and survellance­ on medical ground is what she needs to check for all­ the pluripotential cells that can transform into­ malignancy later in life. If she has streak ovary, or­ any other remnants these could be surgically removed.­ The white man world is full of illitrac y and despite­ all they have they remained undereducated..

    From Augustine A, on Sat 12 Sep 6:41PM

  17. No Irish background at all megan, not even anyone­ catholic either....... before I knew anything about­ the situation only in my teens, I was at the other­ side following the usual English view, I even­ supported Loyalists as well lol, which Im ashamed­ about now....... but with this internet I gradually­ learned more and more about the situation, took­ months and months I think, gradually........­ eventually my mind was changed around completely... ­ it just couldnt be more wrong, Englands been storming­ about over the world kickin people about havent­ they...... but they always saved their worst cruelty­ for the Irish, all their other occupations were­ about greed, Irelands a different matter to them­ though, little to do with stealing any wealth or­ anything..... it was a catholic country right at the­ back door which they didnt proper control of ..........­ so it was a local problem to them they thought

    From 780, on Sat 12 Sep 6:32PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I cant believe people take this thumbs up and down­ seriously, as if it can mean anything in the­ slightest, its not just yous 2, practically­ everybody does it, am I really the only one that­ realises how meaningless it is?, I wonder if theres­ ever any feelings being hurt out there by it

    From 780, on Sat 12 Sep 6:12PM

  19. Apologise to you Free Ireland (and not Island) And you­ are definately a rarity!! Must be Irish blood in you­ somewhere!!! And glad your geography is up to scratch!

    From Megan, on Sat 12 Sep 6:04PM

  20. Im not a paddy Megan, Im English, but with very­ strong Irish sympathies (very rare, yes)........... I­ never said nothing about jungles, thats­ johnny......... and I do know where SA is, and what­ went used to go on there...... probably nothing to do­ with you, all that though :)

    From 780, on Sat 12 Sep 5:55PM
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