Can't believe this hasn't been discussed yet

[The Hitman]

Is an anagram of YES A SECRET MAN.

 

Turns out she's a hermaphrodite.

Now what the hell do they do?!?!

 

Tests on South Africa's 800m world champion Caster Semenya are likely to show that she has an inter-gender condition, BBC Sport understands.

 

Semenya, 18, was asked to take gender tests following her rapid rise to prominence in 2009 and just hours before she won the title in Berlin.

 

The IAAF has the results but wants them examined before speaking to Semenya.

 

BBC Sport's Gordon Farquhar said: "It's likely that she has some hermaphroditic or inter-gender condition."

 

An Australian newspaper has claimed that Semenya is a hermaphrodite - someone who has some or all of the primary sex characteristics of both men and women.

 

How and who should decide in these cases whether the person be considered a woman or a man?

 

The reports have sparked an angry reaction in South Africa.

 

Sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile insisted on Friday: "Caster is a woman, she remains our heroine. We must protect her."

 

South Africa's athletics president Leonard Chuene told the Star newspaper: "The IAAF told us this week that the tests are inconclusive and they could not give us the results just yet.

 

"So I really do not know where the Australia media got this latest one from."

 

National Assembly's sports committee chairman Butana Komphela added: "Someone is guilty of leaking her confidential medical information to Australian newspapers."

 

But the IAAF's Nick Davies said: "The statements should be treated with caution as they are not official statements by the IAAF.

 

"We have received the results from Germany, but they now need to be examined by a group of experts and we will not be in a position to speak to the athlete about them for at least a few weeks.

 

"After that, depending on the results, we will meet privately with the athlete to discuss further action."

 

The IAAF has confirmed it will not comment further on Semenya until after the IAAF council meeting in Monaco on 20-21 November.

 

Farquhar added: "We already know that she has testosterone levels that are three times higher than those normally expected in a female.

 

"It's a serious issue and the athlete has to be told the implications.

 

"There are three possible outcomes from the expert's discussions: that the condition does not give her a competitive advantage; the condition gives her a competitive advantage, which cannot be treated; or most likely, the condition can be treated in some way if she consents to it, and in time she can return to competition."

 

"The IAAF has to weigh the interest of the athlete, an apparently innocent victim in this, with its responsibility to ensure fair competition."

 

Semenya won the 800m title in Berlin in August in the fastest time of the year, one minute, 55.45 seconds, 2.5 seconds ahead of Kenya's 2007 champion Janeth Jepkosgei.

[muleskinner]

Its been dealt with incredibly badly by the IAAF, I feel really sorry for her having her. There have been 8 other similar cases in the last 12 months that have all been dealt with confidentially.

[DanielS]

Its been dealt with incredibly badly by the IAAF, I feel really sorry for her having her. There have been 8 other similar cases in the last 12 months that have all been dealt with confidentially.

 

I agree. Even dope cheats get better treatment. She's done absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever and has to deal with this. Even if she does have both male and female organs by nature she's still an 18 year old girl by nurture ffs. A little respect and sensitivity from the media and IAAF might help.

[Mike]

she can go and f*** herself

[Bo Benn]

Strange though, that this wasn't discovered before at age 18.

 

Still, agree with the sentiments above.

[Coyler]

Yeah, very clumsy. The suggestion at the end of the quote there about "treating" her is a bit dicey, isn't it?

[muleskinner]

Strange though, that this wasn't discovered before at age 18.

 

Still, agree with the sentiments above.

 

Not really, its quite possible she knew nothing about it, it could all be internal to the point where she just has the hormone producing physiology.

[ManxRed]

Poor girl, this must come as a real kick in the b*ll*cks for her.

[ManxRed]

Yeah, very clumsy. The suggestion at the end of the quote there about "treating" her is a bit dicey, isn't it?

 

That was explained on the radio this morning. Apparently people with this condition are very very susceptible to getting cancer in what remains of the internal testes, and most people with this condition are advised to have them removed.

[Dee]

It's been a disgrace from start to finish. One advantage from the sorry mess is that it might provoke serious discussion on gender and the need to think beyond 2 genders and how our language can develop to be able to handle issues outside of male/female dichotomy. As it stands our language is so narrow and restricted when it comes to discussing gender relations & issues

[Mike]

Not really, its quite possible she knew nothing about it, it could all be internal to the point where she just has the hormone producing physiology.

correct

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

It's been a disgrace from start to finish. One advantage from the sorry mess is that it might provoke serious discussion on gender and the need to think beyond 2 genders and how our language can develop to be able to handle issues outside of male/female dichotomy. As it stands our language is so narrow and restricted when it comes to discussing gender relations & issues

 

xhe

[Coyler]

Not really, its quite possible she knew nothing about it, it could all be internal to the point where she just has the hormone producing physiology.

Absolutely.

 

A genetics type was on the radio a while ago and he went to massive pains to defuse the "why can't we just look down her cacks?" questioning from the host (Anton Savage, Irish radio fans) and stress the minefield of ambgiuities that this area of testing throws up. He also made the point that on a simplistic level, all athletes are 'freaks'.

 

They should test all the rest of the female athletes and give them a 'male percentage' as well. Starting with that wagon who finished third (?) who made those horrible comments about her.

[smithdown]

As it stands our language is so narrow and restricted when it comes to discussing gender relations & issues

 

Every language, no?

[Bo Benn]

Not really, its quite possible she knew nothing about it, it could all be internal to the point where she just has the hormone producing physiology.

 

But I was thinking this would be noticed in steroid controls, or maybe she's too young to have gone through a lot of them like most other athletics have?

[muleskinner]

It's been a disgrace from start to finish. One advantage from the sorry mess is that it might provoke serious discussion on gender and the need to think beyond 2 genders and how our language can develop to be able to handle issues outside of male/female dichotomy. As it stands our language is so narrow and restricted when it comes to discussing gender relations & issues

 

She is a woman, there is no discussion to be had or needed on what her gender is.

[Coyler]

That was explained on the radio this morning. Apparently people with this condition are very very susceptible to getting cancer in what remains of the internal testes, and most people with this condition are advised to have them removed.

Sorry; that's a much better interpretation than the other quotes, which read like as if they'll let her back in when she's 'fixed'.

[Dee]

Every language, no?

yes -

[DanielS]

But I was thinking this would be noticed in steroid controls, or maybe she's too young to have gone through a lot of them like most other athletics have?

 

She has elevated levels. Above average. She is within the acceptable range for entry to IAAF competitions, albeit near the top.

Edited September 11, 2009 by DanielS

[smithdown]

yes -

 

Wonder why that might be?

[Mike]

It's been a disgrace from start to finish. One advantage from the sorry mess is that it might provoke serious discussion on gender and the need to think beyond 2 genders and how our language can develop to be able to handle issues outside of male/female dichotomy. As it stands our language is so narrow and restricted when it comes to discussing gender relations & issues

 

no chance. there are only two genders. fact.

[The Hitman]

It's been a disgrace from start to finish. One advantage from the sorry mess is that it might provoke serious discussion on gender and the need to think beyond 2 genders and how our language can develop to be able to handle issues outside of male/female dichotomy. As it stands our language is so narrow and restricted when it comes to discussing gender relations & issues

Personally,I can't see the need to think "beyond the gender" in this context.Without any detailed knowledge of the issue,she's a woman with a birth defect.

I understand the test was done because previously athletes have participated in the race of the wrong sex.I don't believe there's anything wrong with having two different races for men and women,and personally I think it'd be disgraceful to not allow her to compete.

 

The IAAF has handled it pathetically badly,in a scale of ineptitude that's reserved for sporting governing bodies,I believe it was because an e-mail got sent to the wrong address!

[Bo Benn]

She has elevated levels. Above average. She is within the acceptable range for entry to IAAF competitions, albeit near the top.

 

Alright, never got that bit.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

She is a woman, there is no discussion to be had or needed on what her gender is.

 

That's true, and I'd have expected Dee to agree that gender is defined culturally rather than physiologically.

 

Plus, this isn't about gender anyway, it's about sex.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

It's been a disgrace from start to finish. One advantage from the sorry mess is that it might provoke serious discussion on gender and the need to think beyond 2 genders and how our language can develop to be able to handle issues outside of male/female dichotomy. As it stands our language is so narrow and restricted when it comes to discussing gender relations & issues

 

If I had a sex change, presumably you'd be happy for me to call myself a woman?

But this woman, who identifies herself as a woman, has to have a new word invented for her?