Caster Semenya: ‘Hermaphrodite’ test results
Filed Under: Sports | By: Alan Ng
Sep 11, 2009 | Comments 11
It has just been revealed that test results have shown that World 800m Champion Caster Semenya is a ‘Hermaphrodite’. It is just the latest twist in the ongoing gender row, which surfaced after the 18 year old’s success in Berlin.
As reported from SkyNews, the test results have shown Semenya to have both male and female sex organs, and no womb or ovaries. Athletics authorities are now set to wait on full test results, before deciding on action.
As a result of the new claims, it is still a possibility that Semenya could be stripped of her 800m title. However, if it is deemed that the teenager has a medical condition which has caused the excessive testosterone naturally, then the IAAF would likely allow her to keep her medal.
What is your reaction to the news? We’ll keep you updated on this when we hear more.
CLICK HERE to keep updated with the latest entertainment news, Follow us on Twitter or leave a comment.
I feel sorry for her. This is so embarrasing. I hope she gets to keep her medal.
I think she should be allowed to continue to compete and of course keep her title. It’s not her fault she was born like that. You rock!!
There have been documented cases where two fraternal (non-identical) twins have been formed in the uterus, only to merge back into one embryo. The result is a human that has two sets of DNA, not to mention possibly two conflicting personalities. Now, if the twins are both of the same gender the situation may never come to light. (Split personality, maybe…) But, when they are of two different sexes, then you can have this kind of situation.
When they are a “blended twin”, typically one gender/personality dominates, but not always. The “blended twin” situation could explain those individuals who feel they were born in the wrong body. (Looks like a boy, but feels like a girl or vice versa.)
For Ms. Semenya, if doctors were to do a DNA test and take samples from different parts of her body, she may, in fact, have two different sets of DNA. (One male, one female.) There was a program about this subject on the Discovery channel. In one case, a baby was born to a white mother and black father. The baby’s coloration was split down the middle with the colors actually checker boarded on the abdomen. The doctors said it was a merged set of twins, one light, and one dark. Another was a woman whose children did not share her DNA. Tests revealed she had two sets. The DNA her children had matched only the DNA in her uterus!
Re Castor Semenya – I feel badly for her. Her life must have been very confusing for her. One cannot imagine what she could be feeling right now. I wish her luck.
The correct term is intersex, not hermaphrodite.
I love how Caster Semenya has put South Africa on the map internationally. I don’t care what speculations are circulating her, this chick rocks! It would be unfair for the IAAF to strip her of her medal. Why did they not do all these tests and speculations and everything before she ran the race? And another, she is neither complete male nor complete female. So, whatever they decide to do they can’t place her in the men’s section because she has no penis. She is more female than male because the testes are only internal. I feel really badly for her that she has to go through this and no one deserves public humiliation to this extent. Hope she will make it through this with her head held high! Rooting for you girl!
Another was a woman whose children did not share her DNA. Tests revealed she had two sets. The DNA her children had matched only the DNA in her uterus!
—————————————-
She was featured in a TV documentary some months ago about the unreliability of DNA tests and she is British.
it was believed that she abducted the kids and they were taken from her at first until she gave birth to a third child with the same unmatched DNA. Fortunately, and expert in the USA (whose studies on this condition was found on the internet) was able to help the court by revealing her unique genetic condition.
It looks like she never wanted or were interested to be a woman. Her own headmaster of her high school even admitted that he never knew that she was a girl and that she always wore a boys school uniform and always played soccer …don’t sound to ladylike/feminine to me! It has also been said that she was so rough on the field playing soccer that she was taken of the team..not feminine either. Why should all these things bother her? I think she always knew that she was in fact a man. She can not be more female as she has no uterus or ovaries(that actually produce the female hormones) but on the other hand she does have testes that are producing male hormones….not to difficult to work this one out!! Maybe everybody should start giving “her” the choice which gender she wants to be and help her achieve being just that, even if it means surgical procedures. But instead Athletic South Africa wanted her to be and still wants her to remain female for their own agenda and maybe that is why she is not allowed to speak for herself!!!!
Look she is a true champion i dont care what you all think about it.She is she so let her be her
I feel sorry for her, as it was not her fault that she was born that way. On the other hand, she has muscles of a man, and her hips are manly and it is easier to run when you are like that. Therefore it is not right for others to compete with her, as she as physical qualities of a man, which makes it look like a man wins women’s contests.
Well Linda, you said it! She should not allowed to race against females as she is not one since she have NO female hormones or reproductive organs. It is like doping. You might just as well allow all the other athletes to start taking steroids. Yes I understand that she is what she is but that is life. Every can not just think about her, there is a whole sporting community of female athletes that train very hard and deserve a sporting chance to win. The whole matter is that she is in fact a man that were brought up to believe she was a girl. She never wanted to be one in the fist place. So, the poor guy should be helped and made a man that he really is and always wanted to be. But instead it is all about fame any money at this stage!
She’s got balls to try to pass off as a woman in such a competition.
*giggle*