South African runner Caster Semenya has been making headlines after embarrassingly being forced to prove her gender by taking a test. Well, the test results are in, and they've shown that Semenya has internal testes with no uterus or ovaries. In other words, the star athlete is actually intersex.
The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) is allegedly considering taking back her 800m world championships gold medal. Apparently, they're also expected to "advise her to have surgery to fix the potentially deadly condition". I know I'm echoing Pam Spaulding's commentary, but since when was being born a certain way considered fatal?
I personally think it's ridiculous that an intersex individual could be banned from competing solely because they don't fall into traditional gender identities. Semenya appears to identify as female, and even if she chose not to identify with either gender… there's absolutely no denying that she's an outstanding athlete. She deserves the right to compete!
When asked about the controversy in YOU magazine, Semenya elegantly stated, "God made me the way I am and I accept myself. I am who I am and I'm proud of myself. I don't want to talk about the tests. I'm not even thinking about them." Honestly, she shouldn't have to talk about the tests, because they really shouldn't have happened in the first place.
UPDATE: There has been some denial regarding the truth of these reports. More details as soon as we have them.
– Dewitt
So then she kinda is a man then?
No uterus & no ovaries= No babies, right.
Testes, whether internal, or external, are still testes.
I’m going to have to mark this down as going in the male column.
However, it is her life, and however she wants to live it, whatever she wants to go as, let her. No they shouldn’t strip her of her current medals, but maybe take notice of certain things during her next one, idk…
The condition is “deadly” only because intersexed people have a higher risk of cancer. But really, it’s not deadly.
She does NOT have a penis, but instead a vagina. She has testes, not ovaries. She is very much an intersexed person – neither man nor woman. HOWEVER, as she identifies as female, her GENDER is female.
It’s horrible that there had to be so much press about this. I feel so bad for her. Plus – the media spread this before she was even able to find out. Wow. How cruel can you get? Imagine finding out that you’re not who you think you are–from a magazine? It makes me feel sick. Poor girl.
First of all, she should not have been competing with & against women. That’s the whole point of the investigation. It must have been obvious from the beginning that she wasn’t a true female.
No uterus or overies = not female. Testes(whether in or out) = male. Haven’t you heard of boys and older men with undescended testicles?
I have a feeling she knew more and sooner about her intersex situation long before the tests were administered.
I do agree that she needs and should have the right to live her life the way she chooses. However, she can’t compete against females because it’s quite obvious she has more masculine qualities and traits.
Wonder if she has a va-ja-ja,enlarged cliterous, or a small cock? Looks like she has a hint of a buldge in those spandex shorts!
One thing I’ve learned in life is if you have something to hide, don’t put yourself in the spotlight!!!!!
Yep, I feel bad for her.
Busted big time – now hand back that medal fella.
One deluded “chick”.
Nice abs mate.
Vagina = Female, no Ovaries/Uterus = Male
Testies = Male, no penis = Female
It aint that Black and white people, she is Intersex. You guys have no right to say shes Male and go “end of”, thats bigotry in my book.
Also having Internal Testies is very deadly, as VERY high chance of developing Cancer.
In the end its her choice on both matters, peeps should let her pick for self and not judge.
Doncha know? If she doesn’t get this surgery, she will die.
Granted, she’ll die if she DOES get the surgery. And neither choice will really influence her lifespan. But she’s still gonna die.
We’re all fatal.
…it looks pretty healthy to me, ‘Doctors”, I think it will see Christmas.
Semen ja!!
No, really, I feel if she identifies as female, then it is so. What should be done, evaluate a percentage of testoterone or estrogen in her system to put her on one side of the scale or the other?
She has a vagina, all testes begin as gonadal tissue and become ovaries or testicles. Her development (or lack thereof) is an act of God. Leave her alone.
If she wants to compete she can run against other men…..good luck hon!
testes = testosterone. male. i don’t care if your balls are in your abdomen or under your armpit. a normal man can cut off his cock and get fake tits but they won’t let you run against chicks because your body still makes so much T that the chicks have to inject or supplement to compete with you. same deal here.
the only test should be
how much testosterone does she produce compared to other women? If it is significantly high then she needs to compete with men. If not – leave her to identify with being where she is most comfortable to race. End of issue.