Caster is a woman, 'but maybe not 100%'

They cannot discriminate against her. She has lived her life as a woman and therefore must be treated as such. There are many woman who are more 'manly' than she is. If they pigeonhole Caster for her borderline gender, then where will it end? Will they begin banning effeminate men from playing rugby or competing against 'real' men? She was born with her 'advantage'... she is entitled to exploit it!

When Malema said this is influenced by extensive hatred to black which constitute racism, some ignorant people criticised him. Now is clear, a black daughter cannot outperfom her competitors. This is disgusting and for sure we will rally behind Caster and her family. Please Caster know that all Black and some white South African Youth is behind you. Neo Maneng

Neo you are obviously not too quick on the uptake. There are many hermaphrodites in the world - what the hell has skin colour got to do with the price of it. No one said she could not outperform her competitors, and no one said it ahd anything to do with her being black. Please grow up and get a life.

Neo: Stop making this a race issue, it's nothing of the sort.

This isn't anything about black or white...only people who have commented have suggested this.
She hasn't taken any performance enhancing drugs to give her the edge, however I think it's a little hard to believe that she didn't notice this medical condition before now? She's 18. Her family, herself or coach / medical staff didn't notice anything when she went through puberty?

Caster, you an amazing athlete and should be treated as such.
As a fellow athlete I praise your amazing talent and ability.
We should all be ashamed of ourselves, turning your victory into a point of race and gender discussion.

You are what you were born, a talented individual with more grace and humbleness than the lot of us bickering over trivialities.

Regardless of colour, gender or upbringing, we should celebrate the star in our midst.

@neo samuel?What in the world has black or white to do with a possible medical condition?You are totally out of line, you have lost all perspective and are contributing to the cumalitave pain which is inflicted on Semenya.This has nothing to do with race.Why would you also find it fit to react on media reports which is not official and still needs to be verified. The results will only be discussed with Semenya in November. How will your pathetic, miss guided race card assist Semenya, in the event that the test does show what is now reported.This country and Caster Semenya do not need people like you. Take a hike, and keep on going.

And stop referring to her as 'she' please.

Cant wait to hear what foot-in-mouth malema got to say about this. I guess it will be in the same line as my friend neo (see comment above), including something like “we don’t believe in your tests” or “the test was done by white people to discredit blacks”.

Keep the race wheel turning ANC; you're only discrediting yourself in front of the whole world.

I gree with you Pasta Bang! it has nothing to do with race. Its a medical issue, lets give science a chance to give us as citizens and the world the most definite and impartial results.Usually those people who normally acuse people of being racists are big racists themselves as they may even fail even to prove a racist acton this matter.

Yes, neo samuel, we need to rally behind Caster and her family, but not for the reasons you state.

This is a human tragedy. There can be a lot of finger pointing, but that should cease. In particular, those who say the issue is because Caster is black should now just SHUT UP!

The IAAF was compelled to act and they should be allowed to finish their job, which is to (try and) ensure fairness in competition. The leaks to the media are most unfortunate, but nevertheless they must be allowed to go through their processes. ASA should learn from this and I think some accountability must be expected.

Finally, Caster is who she is. Although it is possible her athletics career may be over, she needs to be treated with sensitivity and compassion; and supported 100%. That does NOT mean attacking IAAF as being racist, demanding she keeps her medal or whatever. She has a life to live and what happens to her now may well shape that life. Let there be no "I told you so's" or continued cries of "racism!"

There are none that protest so vehemently as the guilty. Surely, surely the facts must have been known. To the family, to the coach, to ASA. And not one came forward with the truth. Truth is not something that depends on race, colour or creed. Truth is just that. The truth. And who suffers as a result of the deceit. Caster Semenya. Not Chuene, not Malema only Caster. Who wronged her? Those who knew the truth. No one else.

Why is Australia so much against South Africa in any sport?

Ted sigonyela. I don't know. Why do you think?

Why you talking about Australia now? SA paper reports "Australia's Sydney Morning Herald reported on Thursday." In fact it was also reported in the New York Times, on the BBC and in the Daily Yomiuri... So you should ask why are the US, Britain, and Japan against SA in any sport???

I understand the IAAF has the right to investigate possibilities of unfair advantage an athlete has against others, this is normal. They also did it with one of athletes with artificial limbs, and we understood and surported him.
The only thing that went wrong here was the way it was handled, not the need to investigate.
What we need again in this situation is to all stand behind Caster and support her. The statements about racism and such are very wrong and immature, and very detrimental to our democracy. I was also not able to go to airport to welcome Caster, and I am black. Does that make me a racist as it has been alleged of the white South Africans who were not there that morning?
There are people who just get payed for insulting other fellow South Africans and I tend to believe they are the racists themselves.
We love Caster Semenya, and she will always be a hero to us.

Simphiwe & others I have time for, you are constructive, a realist and a intelligent breath of fresh air, too much do we play the victim and race card, we need more positive actions and less malema ngulube vulture types in our free and fair land of hope and opportunity for all. Lets create, not deteriorate!

I have always started in my previous posts that,she look like a man,talked like a man and it now has been proven that 'she has man testes'.That alone is an indication that caster is NOT a 'she'.A 'she' has ovaries NOT testes.

Chuene must have know about this and still he let caster continue running as a 'female'.Caster is even flat chested.

I don't care or give a rat's ass about what everyone says about this case.Someone lied,the ANC,Malema,the government have now been left with an egg on their face.
ASA now denies it has been sent the results.This culture of lying in this country by top officials is irresponsible and embarrassing us in the international world.

Caster must have know that she is a SHEMALE since she was born.The cover in YOU was disgusting.

I think that ASA messed up big time here. They should have pre-empted the problem before sending her to Berlin. It is indeed sad that Caster has to go through this debacle.

All is not lost however, the IAAF does make provision for these situations. With corrective surgery it is possible that she could pursue an athletics career as a woman. But that would depend on her current medical condition.

As for all the idiots that keep raising the race card, they need to realize that this is a unique situation that must be dealt with on it's own merits.

ANCYL doesn't have a problem with Science, it have a problem with the way this issue is being handled, leak of sensitive information to Australia and so forth, So Pasta Bag and his crew you are the one who need to grow up, I personally believe that if Caster was white the same issue could have been treated differently

Whether the issue is race or not it's besides the point here, but the thing that worries me is why is it that this Australian news papers are the ones that are writting and very interested in this story?, They are the ones who started questioning the issue, and now the results somehow "leaked" to them?. Another thing, if things stay this way, and nothing is done, will she be allowed to compete with male athletes because she can't compete with females?

Okay, here is my take, i love the fact that any thing that has to do with this child is (indaba yakwamkhozi), that us south africans(yes yellow, blue and green) have to hear that she is what THEY say she is through the media(Austarian NOGAL). THis is disgusting in many levels, i am a mother and would love to hear what my child is through the doctors, GOv not through the media. Please as South African, Yes Yellow green and BLou, can we just unite and fight for the rights of this child, whether she is a He...., gay, pink, and all that we discribe gender to be. From a concerned mother.

Yeah Winnie but there ARE rules in competition.

I guess is about time we support "Moletsi Express" and stop pointing fingures. Let IAAF finish what they started and in one way or another, come November, we should accept the outcome of the results.

moloko is quite right.
everything has to be simply black and white for mr malema.
grey is not an option

IAAF will answer to God one day.

I guess we should stop pointing fingures and support "Moletji Express". Allow IAAF to finish whatever they have started and come November, we should just accept the outcome of the results.

Duncan McGregor

Because they are racists like you.

Weiss said Semenya's case was the eighth dealing with sexuality issues the IAAF had handled since 2005. "Four athletes were asked to stop their career" I am ashamed Caster has had to go through this. Absolutely terrible. I point my finger at the ASA and the IAAF. "No comment" would have been a great starting point. Even now!

In as much as The IAAF has a right to investigate, is thereany form of professionalism in the manner that this case has been handled.Zimbabwean tennis sensation Cara Black was given a diplomatic passport when she excelled in her field.Just Like Caster her achievements also called on politicians to react, by giving her a grand welcoming.Malema did ask a valid question why was there no support in all essence from the white community.Its a pity that Malema is well known for passing comments that attarct bad publicity but it doesnt mean that he has doesnt have anything valid to say.It is fast becoming a race issue because of the manner in which this case has been handled.True let them prove that Caster is not a she and strip her of her title but were does that leave us.It goes against Human Rights in as far as there are rukews that are supoosed to be adhered. The IAAF has to be profesional in the manner in which they deal with their cases.Our politicians also need to address this issue sensitively and accordingly.The nation should rally behind Caster irrespective of her gender/sex whatver social construct that modern day society has impinged on being male or female.

I think the ASA is ultimately to blame. Didn't the IAAF ask them if Semenya was tested? And didn't they get questions like this from previous competitions? If they showed just the slightest bit of foresight, they could've avoided this thing. It's a sickness not taking responsibility in this country, and now the use the only defence they can - the race card. It's pathetic really.

Of course I'm behind Semenya. She's got a medical condition that is misunderstood by many and that is still a target of discrimination. The ASA could've avoided this. Semenya could've been on Oprah recently (where she could've received vast amounts of support), but the producers cancelled, because the ASA wanted too much money. In the words of Catherine Tate; "What a f&#king liberty!"

I feel terribly sorry for Caster, who must have gone through hell. I am enormously relieved that there is no evidence of doping, as I feared she had been manipulated by an unscrupulous coach. She is comfortable to be herself, and whether hermaphrodite or not, she is still a hero. However both ASA and the IAAF don't come out of this looking good. They could have spared Caster embarrassment by doing these tests long before today, and enabling Caster to make her own choices earlier, as an informed individual. I wish her strength and endurance.

What a shamefull display by the ANC political machine...
Shame on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela , Shame on Julius Malema , Shame on ASA , Shame on all politicians who jumped on this bandwagon and used this poor girls unfortunate medical condition to their bennefit.

What a disgrace that we have a rulling party whose members are so short-sited and incensetive as to use one of this countrys sports hero's in such a distastefull manner. As long as they get their 15 min of TV time they will abuse any situation.

Lets all as a country stand by Caster , not to score political points , but to support her and her family because im sure they all don't understand the complicated medical condition she has.

Im a proud white South African , and celebrate when we as a nation do well in all things , especially international events. What does not make me proud is having to hide my face in shame when our politicians *stuff-up* publically and tarnish our image overseas.

Did we as a country struggle for so long for equality to have it reduced to this ....??? Did so many people die for our freedoms to have self-centered politians abuse their positions of power ... THAT WE AS A VOTING NATION GAVE THEM !!!!!

Kwena... GET OVER YOUR PERSECUTION COMPLEX! See this in CONTEXT! Look at history during the height of the communist era. Eastern bloc athletes were subjected to the same tests and were found to be men. They were white. Get over yourself and join the human race as a full member... not, as you perceive, as a second-class citizen. I wish black people would just take their place in the world without reacting to every issue as a racist attack. Come on guys!

Oh Good God please protect this woman. let those who may be doing this to humiliate her have their heads cut off in Afghanstan and Iraq, and let their economy never recover for the next 10 years, and please Great God, make no one buy their minerals as it looks that is where our war with them started. Good God, we seem to have all the minerals they have, and many more. Oh God make them suffer. AMEN!!

It is grossly unfair that this poor young woman has had to undergo this ordeal and humiliation.

It is so sad that newspapers feel it to be their right and privilege to publish details of this personal a nature. There is no need for that and it could easily have been avoided. I find it immoral and shameful - poor journalism of the most sensationalist type.

M&G - on what grounds did you too publish this info ? That readers have a need to know the most personal details that afflict this young woman ? Feel shame !

This highlights how cack our education and health systems remain in SA. In Sweden a child with this well described problem would have been picked up by the nursery school teacher, socail worker and referred through to an endocrine/intersex paediatric gyne unit at some point. I mean for crying in a bucket did no-one think it odd that the child had never had a period even though she was now 17. Once again this shows how poorly the ANC has delivered over the last 15 years.

It is cruel and unfair to Casper, young lady just focus on your dreams,no one said its gonna be easy ,be strong Caster...SA loves you (WHITE & BLACK), we will overcome this, it is not a black or white or ANC or DA issue its inhuman, remember some MEDIA HOUSES are merciless they will do anything to sell their paper.... IT IS THE BEGINNING OF GOOD THINGS TO COME FOR CASPER ,YOU ARE MY HERO.

its heart breaking to know that what when ever Africa succeeds in the whole world should complain.
Caster has been humiliated in public and no one has the guts to stand up and apologies. now the question rises that " is it going to be fair on her competitors?" is this fair on her if she had to compete with males?

lets stop being negetive and congratulate the joy that this young lady has brought to the south african country.

really she is not to be blamed and does not need this stress.

Paps on September 11, 2009, 10:17

You might be very wrong with your statement:
'...IT IS THE BEGINNING OF GOOD THINGS TO COME FOR CASPER ,YOU ARE MY HERO...'

If the news are correct, she might never compete again. Unless of course the 'good' you refer to refers to something outside athletics...

This whole debacle is ridiculous and unfair on Caster. There are only 2 catagories to perform in during athletics - men or women. What are they going to do, create another catagory??? Or simply ban athletes that don't fit nicely into one of the boxes? I wish people would stop playing the race card, this has absolutely nothing to do with it.

All the blame must go ASA and Semenya.Semenya knows what she is,she has no ovaries or womb and has male testes.It didn't need IAAF to tell her that.Chuene MUST go,he has disgraced the country and Semenya.As for the ANC and it's myopic junior,you deserve all the embarrassment emanating from this saga.
Semenya talks like a man,looks like a man,that makes her a SHE MALE.

We need Malema to explain this one.And whose idea was it for a YOU photo shoot.From one disaster to another.

So the complaint to the UN was a poor,ill advised and emotional decision

A doctor never told "her" why "she does not have menstrual cycles?
Odd to say the least, probably unlikely rather. Simple. And unfair to the females who did not win. Why continue with separate mens and womens races if this will be allowed? "She" took a chance and was caught out.

I simply had a knee jerk reaction when Malema came with his crazy race-card claims. This caused me to wish that she would be stripped of her medal.

Now that it seems that she did not cheat and her advantage is natural –albeit freakish, I genuinely feel for her. It’s time to say sorry to Ms Semenya and drop it.

PLEASE LEAVE CASTER ALONE, AND LET HER KEEP THE MEDAL.

And give perhaps some more due attention to the fellow SA athletes Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and Khotso Mokoena who won Gold and Silver.

im am fedup with Malema, this young man has got no respect im am an a blackk south african maried to a white man i feel so much bad and humiliated every time he opens his mouth as it does really stink he is so much stupit thank God he is so much exposed that he is such a lunatic/ low life and so much an oppotunist

That will make you a happy Moloko, athletics of course , are you an IAAF chief advisor now.

Why is it that whenever something happens to a non-white anywhere in the world, be it a South African athlete or a Sri Lankan bowler who chucks, it is always racist. Neo, what about the attacks by black South Africans on the Zimbaweans, are they racist? Or doesn't that count?

Perhaps the terrible racist whites shouldn't bother to send billions of rand to the Africans who are being starved by their leaders-or would that be racist too?

Get a life! If your association had done its job none of this would have happened.
Hey perhaps Zuma will take 'her' as another wife!!

I am utterly disgusted by some of the comments i see on this discussion forum.This is the time when we are supposed to be writing messages of support for Caster and her family. Leon you are just pathetic! you tryna tell me that a man with ganecomastia is no man because he has breasts that look like a females and therefore cannot be reffered to as a "he"? Do you even know that some peole start menstruating later than 18yrs? your comments just make me sick.

Can every one stop being self absorbed and support Caster our Hero in these psychologicly traumatising times. pointing fingers doesnt help either.

Can peolpe stop jumping to conclusions until the process has been concluded in November.

Caster we love and support you, may God be with you during these trying times.

THere is no race issue on Caster, Many people including ANC, they just wanted to politizes all these things unneccesary.Such test was previously done to other people.I also feel sorry for poor Caster because she did not make herself that way.Our problem is that we are somtimes not objective as Africans, but subjective.What was the respond from us and ANC when that white guy was disqualified nothing.

Leon, we do not need negative people like you in this country. Semenya is a 'she' and that is final. Caster did not do Medicine, there is no way she would have know that she had male and female sex organs especially when the male organs are internal. There is no need for this kind of debate, I think we should let Caster deal with what has been reviled about her sex and allow her to choose what she wants to be. It is not our place to determine whether she should be referred to as a man or women. Grow up South Africa, this country does not need such division, there are far more pressing issues that need our attention. Caster is comfortable with who she is, end of story.

Some idiots like Malema and Neo here see fit to make this tragedy another vehicle to spout their racist nonsense.
Caster was exploited by opportunistic and dishonest persons and bodies who were out for glory-no-matter-what.
Now it backfired and the whole thing lies in tatters no matter what bluster and further lies.
Caster will be prohibited from further competition, she (if Caster chooses to adopt the female gender, then that should be respected) and her family are deeply traumatised by the whole affair and internationally SA is once more shown to be a bunch of obdurate denialists.
Great!

You South Africans have to harden up. As an Australian I feel that if she is a woman she should keep her medals. If she is not a woman she should give them to the next best person who is a woman. I believe the tests are not public yet. So lets wait for the tests. South Africans seem very thin skinned about stuff like this. It wouldn't happen in Australia. I don't care what else she is. If she is not a woman she doesn't desreve the medals.

Garpal Gumnut

I think South Africans are getting too obssessed with colour. The results will be made official in November, let's wait till then.

I'm very much interested to know who's responsible for leaking all this info to Australlian media, IAAF must do something about some of their untrustworthy officials who keep leaking info to the media if they want to be respected!

As for ASA and the ANC, they better pray these reports are not true, because they'll be left with the egg in their face after racialising the whole issue!

The discussion on this page is a testament to the overwhelming oversensitivity South Africans are afflicted with at this time.

For me the matter is very simple, regardless of who knew what, what colour she is, what we choose to call her condition: she does NOT have ovaries or a womb, but she DOES have male testicles. This makes her more man than woman.

If you were a female competing in an athletic event for FEMALES, would you not have a problem with someone competing who was nearer a man than a woman, but only believed he was a woman?

She is not a woman and cannot compete in womans sport, it's as simple as that, as painful as her affliction may be, she is not a woman and would carry an unfair advantage in competition against other WOMEN.

I feel desperately sorry for Semenya. It sounds as though ASA have a lot to answer for, this situation should have been dealt with long ago.

This unfortunate incident also raises the nature of excellence in sport in general, a very grey area which is not often discussed. Every athlete that excels at a particular sport is, in some way, superhuman. The tall and lanky highjumper, the marathon runner with an abnormally strong heart, the sprinter with a freakish amount of fast-twitch muscle, the swimmer with huge feet that act like flippers (Ian Thorpe anyone?). These athletes already have a built-in, natural advantage over their competitors. I could train as hard as Usain Bolt, but never run as fast as him - as all the other 100m athletes have discovered. Excellence in a particular sport is often linked with some inherent physical advantage. Athletics, in particular, is a strange dichotomy between these superhuman athletes and what is considered "fair" and a "level playing field". Unfortunately where the line is drawn between acceptable advantage and unacceptable advantage is fairly arbitrary.

Whatever the outcome of the enquiry, Caster needs our supports as a country, not necessarily to retain her standing as an female athlete, but as a human being who has most likely been emotionally tormented by this incident at a young age.

bathong, lets wait for the official results and stop supporting rumous that only have the so called "reliable/close source". ke fetsa fa

Paps, why the tone? If she is not female she cannot compete under the women section. This is not fairytales, lies, racism... it is athletics, where men compete against men and women against women. It will not make me happy nor sad if she may or may not compete in future athletics events. What is rediculous though is you and the ANCYL and now that Murderer (winnie M) who invested so much passion and credibility into the unknown, i.e. if Caster is in fact male or female. Now, with eggs running down your face you still stand by your rediculous argument???!

So no, i am not the IAAF advisor, however, you pretty much share the idiocy diplayed by Malema, ASA, Chunene, Murdrer winnie and YOU magazine.

Caster has a non-verbal way of communicating, which is demonstrated in poses. 1. Raise your clenched fists above your shoulders like body builders and geive them 2 twists. 2. Cross your hands around your shoulders. 3. Pretend to rub unwanted dirt from your shoulders. 4. Raise your fist in victory or in this case salute to Caster's young spirit.

We should all do Caster Style and aim it at all the purveyors of negatism against our superstar. She is a child of Mandela a child of the Mahatma, a child of Braam Fischer, a child of Saartie Baartman, who all work damn hard to get us where we are.

It is a shame that those that have appointed themselves custodiams of morality, are resorting to barbarism and total lack of decency and are working feverishly in order to deny a young African athlete what she she has worked so hard to accomplish.

The saddest thing is that fellow countrymen are also having a field day on what she is or not. Caster, you too, have been created in the image of God. Is this not what has been taught to us by the supposedly enlighten West.

To all you brainwashed ANC lemmings: Of the 22 individual track events in Berlin, 20 gold medals to blacks, 1 Chinese and 1 white. A little bit of research, and you wouldn't look so foolish with your cry of racism. And by the way, find out about fair play as well and why there is testing in some cases. Of the 8 tests since 2005, 4 athletes were asked to retire for obvious reasons.
The real tragedy is, that ASA was aware of Caster's predicament, but in their lying, cheating and incompetent way chose to IGNORE those facts and throw Caster to the wolves and all for a gold medal. (They did some gender testing BEFORE the World Championships, but never released the results.)

In any event, it's an Athletics issue and if you are not interested in the sport or have no knowledge of it, butt out and post your political comments to the appropriate blog.

Caster.... go find yourself a good PR company who will put your story about how the ASA let you down etc into a book - go make yourself a fortune girl - let all this unbelievable thrashing around you give you something good from it. No matter what happens, I believe you know that South Africans care and are behind you - despite what idiots like Malema and Neo say.

No one chooses their sex - we are simply born as we are. My greatest sympathy is with Caster, a young woman who didn't ask for any of this hype around her, but simply desired to pursue her talent. Let's not forget that she is just 18 years old - an age when it is so difficult to formulate one's identity, regardless of what sex you are.

Let us be sensitive to Semanya, the person, and not use this as an opportunity to push selfish agendas at the expense of another person whose seeming crime is to have had a dream.

Guys, please stop turning this into a race row. it has nothing to do with with race.
ASA put us in this mess and they must come out clear and disclose the whole story. They knew the situation before Berlin, but didn't disclose to IAAF. they gambled and went horribly wrong for the poor 'girl'. they all have to pay for the bad image they have created for the country.
They should all be fired immediately! Chuene continues to make irresponsible statements when they all knew the true story. This is not race issue but pure science and unfair advantage Semenya has.
As far as I am concerned, she is a man but not 100%!

lugwena daniels,Australia is ahead of other countries by almost a day and will be the first to publish the story.The story actaully appeared on the SMH online edition.

About leaks to the paper,that happens everywhere in the world,even in South Africa for that matter.There will always be leaks.

I have to here Caster speaks for herself.She hasn't really said much.I have head Caster say she was a woman,everyone assumed she was because Caster her/himself available for Germany.

It is a traumatic time for Caster and a psychologist and a counsellor must be made available.And Caster's parents must be held responsible too,they must have noticed the gender ambiguity.They probably convinced Caster that 'she' was a woman or what it Caster's choice to a woman instead otherwise.

It must be known that Caster is NOT the only one with this gender ambiguity,there is a lot of people like that all over the world.

Next time the ANCYL,ANC,SA Government,it's advisable to get the facts RIGHT before shooting out your RACIST that and racist this mouths.

A simple solution to this. The IAAF must now include a SHE/HE class...hahahaha
Its so funny listening to all the ranting and racial tension this is causing.
Just let her...um...him..be.

One thing saffas are great at is playing the race card.

GET OVER YOURSELVES WE ARE ALL FROM THIS PLANET AND THEREFORE SHARE A COMMON HERITAGE CALLED THE EARTH.

:)

M&G your headline is misleading.Or maybe you wanted to be on the safe side of Malema,ANC and all and sundry.

Even the SMH didn't report its headline as you did.

This is not about anyone's skin colour, but lack of competency of those that were suppose to pick it up long before hand. It is now out of control, as usual South Africans are pointing fingers and using the dull and boring race argument. We are all racist but we need to be martured about it, and look beyond the bigger picture.

The family probably knew that the girl is not 100% female but to them she was their little girl, period. After all she is almost 70% female, it was only natural for her to fall into being a woman. Those that had means and ways of unravelling the isssue in a fair and human way they should havedone so long before she went to Berlin. Now it's embarrasing and demeaning for her, yet it could have been avoided. As for the ANC and ANCYL, most of them probably didn't know anything about her before this debacle, and they just joined the bandwagon at seeing that she is actually black.

Caster, through no fault of her own, had an unfair advantage on the Kenyans who came 2nd and 3rd. Therefore the IAAF will probably take away her gold medal and award it to the second placed runner. Sadly you cannot have an athletic category for hermaphrodites or indeed for lesbains and homosexuals. Just very sad!

Derek James

If caster was anyone's little girl(18) and this rhetorics are flushed on all the available medias, as a parent to her how would you feel?? support is the only thing you can offer at this stage instead of insulting back to the media. this could happen to anyone of us.....as long as He's still the giver and the taker.

From the editor of Huisgenoot/You all the way up to the CEO of Naspers should stick their heads in a hole for the disgraceful article they published, making a few bucks but at the tremendously sad expense of a young person

Most of you are morons and didnt read the item totally. Caster is 100% female in all physical appearances and visible organs.
However, internally (where you can't see)she has an organ that is producing more than average testosterone.
It is a strong probability that there have been more than just a few athletes over the years with similar conditions that have not been diagnosed as such because science has not been as advanced. It is a real shame that the ASA have handled this so badly and together with the ANC have labelled the finding of a scientific condition as "racist".

All the IAAF have said is that they HAVE the results and they need to speak to Caster and they have told the media AND ANYONE ELSE WHO CARES TO LISTEN that this matter is extremely sensitive. No one has heard this and every man and his dog has piled in with his 10c of drivel. Wont the media and the politicians looking for gain kindly leave this item alone. If Winnie and Julius want to be the ANC do gooders, by all means go ahead, but stop telling the media about how kind you are being and stop giving the media opinions to be quoted.

A wise old sailor once told me that they are all pink inside.
He was a bit pissed so I'm not sure if he knew what he was taking about. Sometimes he liked to talk just to hear his own voice.
All sound very familiar.

Just a small detail, the reports say that the testicles are on the inside of her body and asuming the outer parts all look female which they must be otherwise how would she be able to live in univesity rez with a roommate etc. Imagine if you grow up looking down there and seeing female parts, (regardless of being flat chested as many women are..), I would definately feel and think I am female .. How is she supposed to have known about internally growing testicles.... Menstaution....also another thing that does not happen with all women... the voice and facial hair.... that also is common amongst women. So have a "think" before posting some comments

You are all bickering on irrellevancies! First question: Who leaked these tests to the newspapers in Australia? We all know Australia has no beef for black Africans. Why to an Australian newspaper, of all newspapers? Once again the IAAF has demonstrated extreme arrogance and disregard to the human rights of Caster! This is a disgrace! Our Govt. should become involve and demand a UN investigation into the whole Caster saga as I smell a rat here!

Uhuru and pal's. PLEASE STOP USING Caster as a tool to spread your anti-white political agendas please. You are no better than the Australian newspapers, when you use her, to spread your hate speech.

Thank you.

The way this has been handled has been awful for Ms Semenya, and for South Africa. It should all have been handled in private and she could then quietly have left the field.

But how come her mother didn't know that she wasn't menstruating? Why didn't the chaperone (I presume there is one as well as a doctor or nurse) know immediately that something wasn't quite right when she first started competing seriously? This could ALL have been prevented then :(

It is a good thing to know that there are lots of idiots who read the Mail & Guardian. The bad news is that reading such material won't help their condition.
I dream of the day when South Africans will stop using Apartheid as an excuse for gross stupidity, a pipe dream it is.
This whole shocking episode was predictable
I just hope that Caster recovers and "profits" from this whole debacle.
As an athlete on the world stage some invasion of privacy goes with the territory but the South African politicians have found a victim to parade around like some kind of "Sartjie Baartman" freak show.
Just when Caster thinks she's about to have a quiet moment one of those "paragons" Winnie, Julius or some equally repulsive snake rips off her privacy and starts discussing her racial origins and private body functions in the media.
Shame on all of them
Let the IAF do their work and make their decisions

Gender tests are not a new phenomena to atheletics so people should just relax and stop politicising and racialising this issue, HOWEVER the manner in which this issue was handled leaves much to be desired. @ Julian Bond I feel that we can not blame Casters parents for not knowing about her gender issues I'm sure they noticed that she is different but due to the lack of knowledge, information and access to medical resources they did nothing about it, when a child is born the rudimentary approach of determining the sex is applies which is to see if she has a vagina or penis there isnt any intricate chromosonal and hormonal assessments SO PLEASE LETS CUT HER PARENTS SOME SLACK also considering their poor disadvanteged rural background. BUT I was disgusted to see how the politicians jumped on to the racism bandwagon publicly uttering such nonesense when the entire world is watching THAT WAS VERY DISTASTEFUL!!! I feel it highlighted their ignorance,how narrow minded they are and that they react irrationally! These very same politicians should have enquired about gender issues in atheletics before making any public comments LOOK HOW FOOLISH THEY SEEM AT THIS POINT, dont go ranting about something YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!

It is so sad to learn that the news turn out this way. I feel sorry for Carster. But I'm worried about the way we South Africans approach a problem, this saga shouldn't have been politicised. Blaming white people for our incompetence is just not on. Racisism is a scapegoat in SA. As for the president of ASA, he must be fired for the job not well done. He didn't do enough to protect Carster and above all he resigns from the IAAF board simply because he did not do his job and he knew he has to explain back at home. He is a coward, he let Carster down.

To the ignorant people who have commented above ...
Here's a lesson in geography ... the earth spins ... therefore Australia / Japan / Asia "starts" the day +- 7-10 hours before Africa / Europe and a futher +- 7 hours before America.

THATS WHY THE ARTICLE IS IN THEIR NEWSPAPERS 1ST...

So stop this "Australia" bashing. It was not only published in Australia , but Japan , BBC , New York Times , etc...

What does the ANC say about this farse ... how're they going to spin this tragic tale... ??

Stop wasting time on Semenya and celebrate the Gold (genuine) of Mulaudzi and the Silver (genuine) of Mokoena.

Just a viewpoint from Australia: It beggars belief that you South Africans have managed to turn a 'male-female' issue into a racial issue. How the heck did you manage that?

Caster Semenya should be proud of who she is and the role that she has been chosen to carry out. Who else could have initiated this ongoing dialogue about race, and brought the simmering racial tensions in this country to the fore. Caster is the chosen one. That notwithstanding, I believe that this child deserves the support of everyone...South African or not, for the trauma she has undergone. Instead of angry eruptions against the media and the senseless banter which has been filling the columns of local newspapers, people should stop and think of how, or whether they could handle the ordeal that has been placed on Caster's shoulders.

We should all be trying to figure out what could be done to provide this young woman the supports and services that would help her to triumph over this nightmarish experience and return to a healthy productive life of her choosing. Please let us all rally around Caster, not just as a great athlete, but as a person...a child...a youn lady who needs us all to stop fighting and help her begin to heal from this experience.

Guys, the leaking of information to Australia is the side issue.We all know the role of Media.Moloko Moloko i totaly agree with you, these ANC guys want to politizise the issue of Caster as if they care about the development og sports.Is there any government school still having sports,NO.Look at so called Model C, is different.These ANC just want to claim glory and achievement at the expense of Caster.Lets wait for the result and leave race out of the issue because that is not the crux of the matter.

True that Sinudeity. I agree with you 100%. And hopefully the results work together for good. Even if she may be more of a man that a woman. Hopefully the outcome favours her as in whether she continues with her career or not but whatever final say would be....hopefully somehow things will work out for good.

If Caster had known that all if this will happen, then she would not have entered the competition.
She won fair and square. I don't know what this fuss is all about, they must just leave her alone. She has had enough!!

I hear all the noise about Caster, the ASA, the IAAF blah blah blah. My question is - WHY on earth did they wait till she WON before eyeing her gender?

Needless to say, if I was Caster I'd sue the whole lot of 'em. This is defamation of character. I'd plead psychological scarring, or something along those lines. I'd milk 'em dry. Demand that my family be compensated for all the trauma. Whooo, I would certainly not fold my hands!

Needless to say - someone here blamed the ANC for the fact that no body had picked up that, at age 17, Caster didn't have her period. Im sorry, what on Earth does the educatioon system have to do with this? I don't think Caster was oblivious of the fact that women have periods. Lets stop pulling the Government into this. At the end of the day it boils down to my initial question: WHY DID THEY WAIT TILL SHE WON THE RACE???

They say that Caster has no womb or ovaries. So, if a woman athlete has a hysterectomy and her ovaries are removed as well due to medical life and death situation, does that mean she cannot run anymore as a woman? Must she then be classified as a man seeing that she has no womb or ovaries. Mind puzzling!!!

Only a racist would turn a sporting issue into a racial matter. Just as Caster did not choose to be born like this, races also can not be chosen. Let us as South Africans do what we normally do to and for our heroes. Disregard their skin colour and honour their Victories. Lets live racism to our retarded country-men

Wow,this Semenya issue has opened a can of worms.It would seem that the real losers of this saga are the racist politicians.I didn't realise the government was as racist as they are,the interesting thing is that now the whole world knows.
They have shown themselves up to be racists.
I think that some ( note: not all,but some) black South Africans do not even comprehend what it means to be racist towards white people.The sufferings of apartheid have given them such entitlement and a sense of righteousness that they feel whatever they say is ok because they were the oppressed,but they are in charge now and tread a fine line.Or is it that they just hate white people and don't care what the world thinks?

Of coarse it is not up for debate whether white Australians are racist's or not,generally speaking, they are.

What also interests me about these comments above is how many black people see this thing as a non race issue,and how this in fact may distance black people from racist politicians.

The days for playing the race card for our politicians may soon be over as far as international politics is concerned.

Caster was born this way and she accepts who she is, she is flourishing and proud of the person she is. We have a responsibility to not judge, period. Why is she considered to be at an advantage in her sport, because she runs and wins? Would it be a problem if she was losing? isn't she the one at a disadvantage because now her private life is seriously public? Support her because she is brave and strong and stands on her own, hopefully with much moral support, in a very difficult time.

Caster, I sincerely believe that the vast majority of South Africans, including myself, support you and are ashamed and embarrassed by the way you have been treated. Your physical condition is not of your making. Of course, Malema, Zuma, Stofile, Winnie Mandela etc. etc. should all eat humble pie (which they probably wouldn't recognise if it jumped in their faces) for the way in which they have reacted in this situation, BUT, the ENTIRE blame rests on the shoulders of ASA and Chuene. His denial of any knowledge of your condition, and the subsequent handling of the matter is an absolute disgrace, and he and the entire management should be fired immediately. If anybody is to be sued, it should not be the IAAF or the Australian newspapers, but ASA.

In closing, I would like to add that no-one I have ever spoken to on this saga is perceiving it as anything to do with race. But, once again, our Government decided to play the race card because they did not have any other cards to play.

Louis D on September 11, 2009, 2:20 pm

Bitterness is poisonous and it leaves the drinker of bitterness with all kinds of delusions that are only narrowly filtered through the very funnel that will only pass the same kind of potion of bitterness drunk as the delusions that the drinker perceives.

C'mon,what the IAAF did was unprofessional.They did not handle this issue like professionals period.Shame on them and all those who uses this delicate issue to gain popularity.Well,racist exist and its much alive in this world.Racists are bred(TRUTH).

This entire matter is SO tedious! ASA have behaved very badly and wish to God that it was all over! At least the rest of the world will see the cr*p that we have to put up with on a daily basis!

Sbu i agree with you on this one.What IAAF did was unprofessional but people must not use this issue to address their personal political agendas. This world is still very much BLACK and WHITE.

Ted sigonyela on September 11 asked - "Why is Australia so much against South Africa in any sport.....?"

Simple - because we can and sometimes let you beat us at rugby. Come to think of it we are also against the All Blacks because they give us a hiding sometimes as well......

BUT - two things we do not do is poison the All Blacks like happened in South Africa (Now a PROVEN fact)

and

We do not send men to race as women - then cry RACISM when you get caught out - however, you might get a team from the "boks" to play netball against the New Zealand Silver Ferns and the Aussie Diamonds GIRLS teams - but I have a feeling that even both might beat you.......

Of course your sports minister (sic) as well as Malenoma, Winnie and that twisted Komphela can instigate a third gender after they have gone to a world war - Male - FEMALE - - - - and cheating South Africans.

My apologies to all the moderates over there in South Africa, BUT it is very hard to tell the difference between the intelligent - and the empty drums who bleat on endlessly! It is little wonder why South Africans are ridiculed when they cheer on cheats and liars - yet forget all about the real champions - the ones who DID return with GOLD and SILVER as GENUINE athletes!

My best wishes are with Caster - and if I was a drinking man, I would have no problems having a beer with her - but I do not think I would kiss him good night........ I'll leave that to Julius - it is about his level.

@JAY I have to admit that you sound like a bitter ex-South African that migrated down under, anyways yes our leaders are a bit on the ignorant side but please do not generalize and make assumptions about our intelligence because that's insulting. Typical of an Aussie to have this unfounded superiority complex though!

@ Maphari Mashao - I am sorry my friend, but surely I did not sound like a bitter ex South African ..... I am a genuine Australian - who does not have all that much time for saffers I have had the misfortune to come up against - black or white. However you will have to make up your mind as to whether I am a bitter ex Saffer - or an Aussie with a superiority complex - you can not have a two way bet on that issue.

As for making assumptions as to the somewhat low intelligence in general - would you really want me to think otherwise after reading so many of the posts here so far - where in the main it has descended into a racial diatribe of the lowest form. Why has not one black person discovered what Jost van Dike wrote on September 11?

To quote another Aussie who posted - "It beggars belief that you South Africans have managed to turn a 'male-female' issue into a racial issue. How the heck did you manage that? Why do you fail to celebrate the genuine Gold of Mulaudzi and the genuine Silver of Mokoena and their performances?

While you fail abysmally to celebrate your genuine victories - and bluster you way following the racial claptrap of the Malenomas and "necklace Winnie" where the cheats are honoured and feted - then you will never be accepted by the rest of the world - and if you allow yourselves to be dragged into the abyss of international sports oblivion as was South Africa during the Apartheid times - one does not need to make assumptions of your intelligence - you have already displayed it.

I genuinely feel for Caster for she is one of those freaks of nature and is not fully female - and yet not fully male and to be perfectly honest, if he/she was my child - it would not have been paraded before the world and exposed as a cheat as your administration has done. As for that photo shoot - be honest with yourself and tell me that you would have allowed him/her to be ridiculed in such a fashion?