S. African Runner's gender testing results

[Momo]

Apparently Caster Semenya has been fond to lack a womb and ovaries , but internally been found to have male reproductive organs. Semenya apparently will be deemed too strong to compete w/females and not strong enough to compete w/males.
Being just 18 years old and having been raised a female by her family, Semenya's love of running and competing is coming to a crashing halt.
I truly feel for this individual as they are caught in a gray area that track and field is in no way ready / willing to deal with.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/play...26714&src=news

[MarissaNicole]

Externally she has both parts right?

From what I had heard on the today show this morning (not necessarily a reliable source) she wouldn't be stripped of anything as long as she hasn't been taking testosterone unnaturally.

I would hope they would still allow her to compete as a female because that is what she identifies as and I don't think she should be punished for things that are beyond her control.... what sticky situation....

[Thirteen]

That's just so depressing for her and her family (the dream of running, not about being a hermaphrodite).
This year really seems to be bringing up many topics that focus on that inevitable "gray areas" of life.
Question though - how did the doctor not catch this at birth?

[MrsK]

Doc didn't catch it because she probably looks like a girl externally. They probably never attempted to look at her internal organs.

[Momo]

Semenya may have come from a poor remote village where sophistication in these in these types of anomalies would more than likely be lacking. They said the internal male organs would produce 3xs more testosterone than a regular female could produce, thus giving an edge over female competitors.

[SuzySunshine]

They said the internal male organs would produce 3xs more testosterone than a regular female could produce, thus giving an edge over female competitors.

This is what makes this tough because if another female athlete was found to be taking that much testosterone she would be DQ'd. So what do you do about a person who has been raised and lived her life as a female but biologically makes that much testosterone which in turn gives her an advantage?

[L.Jane]

This is what makes this tough because if another female athlete was found to be taking that much testosterone she would be DQ'd. So what do you do about a person who has been raised and lived her life as a female but biologically makes that much testosterone which in turn gives her an advantage?

It makes it a rock and a hard place. I feel for the girl. I can't imagine being told I can't do what I love because of the way I was born. Its unfair to her, its unfair to the other runners, its just completely unfair.... Yes, I know, life isn't fair, and I'm stating the obvious. It just really stinks sometimes.

[GrayMatterWife]

This seems so cruel. I hope the sport feels terribly self-satisfied, have stripped a young woman of her most intimate and inate sense of self. I don't really understand what was accomplished. It's not like there is some rampany problem with women who don't realize they are men seeking to gain improper disadvantage in the sport.

The whole thing lacks humanity and compassion, to me.

[houseelf]

The whole thing lacks humanity and compassion, to me.

ITA. Additionally, the whole world is now debating about the possible side effects of her nether regions...her privacy and dignity have been destroyed.

Kelly

[bokelley]

This is so sad, I wonder if she had any idea before these test were done, or if she learned the same time the whole world did.

[rainbabies]

ITA. Additionally, the whole world is now debating about the possible side effects of her nether regions...her privacy and dignity have been destroyed.

Kelly

my exact thoghts