Semenya 'shattered' by gender-row reports

Of course she is upset! what do we expect.Why do these people like stating the obvious.There no sanity in the way this issue is playing itself out.

This is very sad indeed...ASA blames IAAF and they mirror it back to them...surely the ASA should have forseen this happening...indeed if she came last this whole thing would have been irrelevant..but with her times she surely would have had a chance...how can this be??? Cheune is a clown and has no inkling about world standards and hence he finds himself unfit for thsi role...If I was Caster I would sue the ASA for a fortune!!!!!

It is incredibly sad that ASA has let Caster down by not taking note of her obvious condition, and keeping her out of competition until a decision could be made by the proper authorities whether she should compete as a woman or not. Hermaphrodites are not unheard of, so the question I now ask is: how should people with this condition who have athletic ability be treated in future? Will they need to have their own participation category? What about the genetic tests (X & Y chromosomes) - should that be the criterion?

We know this unending saga, hurts the young girl, her family and friends, but who benefits from perpetuating this? Can't we for once be sensible and leave this child alone?

After listening to ASA president and Ex ASA Doctor on Metro FM, I would say we need a commission of inquire on this matter of Golden Girl, How can a random testing be done when an athlete is ordered to go to a certain clinic? Something is fishy about this.Philani@Umlazi

If SA is serious about making Casters situation better, then our local newspapers must stop reporting on arguments and silly issues raised.

We are sick and tired of 'who said what' and two minutes later you open a newspaper again and find that 'who said this again' about the Caster story.

Let the issue be handled professionally (comission of enquiery)and let our newspapers not step as low as Syndey and respect the life of a young girl. She can read and knows how to use the Internet meaning she sees what local newspapers publish, the least she can do is have a consolation that local newspapes condem whats happening and are in support of her. We carnt control international media but we can with local media.

I am onfused by this article! it is full of contracictions and quotes that are out of context!

1

they say Carl Lewis blames the ASA for "putting it out in front of the world" yet ASA was reactionary after the IAAF leaked the issue to Australian media which leaked the story. So, i think Carl Lewis is actually reffering to the IAAF and not ASA!!

2

It was not ASA that duped Caster into a gender test but IAAF!

3)

"But ASA's website clearly states that Adams is South Africa's team doctor, according to the Star."

doesn't M&G have access to the internet. Why don't they bother finding out whether that is true or not? I mean this info is a few press of buttons away! i think it is just convenient for them not to verify the Star's claim as it's better to report controversy rather than fact especially when it does not favour local bodies

Thi is crazy !!!!!!

I hope those who rejected Caster saga as racism now they know what is racism look like. It is very sad that children should pay for Mendala's struggle for freedom. Black people should remember one thing, racism is running in our blood both black and whites but children are not suppose to pay and be responsible for our past. Stigma and discrimination are element of racism, you can go all over the world if you are not white -you cannot claim victory. Victory and battlle come with pain in this world and Caster is very familiar with that. UN,AU and other human rights institutions failed this world to protect children not only from racism including child labour and other crimes.These bodies cannot be trusted anymore.

It is our responsibility as South Africans to protect our children including Semenya. We should stop blaming news agancies, President Zuma took British news papers to task and we must do the same thing to Caster. Any news paper that write about Caster especially about unfounded tests must be taken to court by South African Government.

mbulelodyasi@24.com

Mbulelo Dyasi
Human Rights and AIDS activist

This poor woman is going through hell.

Heads should roll at ASA. Despite the leaks from IAAF, the way they handled the whole saga is incompetence of the highest order.

I think south africa and media are missing the point that the person we should be all concern with is Caster. It doesn't matter who said what to who, who tricked who to do what...This is a person that held our flag in beijing and made us proud as south african. Has anyone seen an articles lately that was empathetic towards Casters feelings (Yes we have no control over australia's media but what are we doing to build our hero that is been beat down by the rest of the world) and how we as people that should be behind her are actually making this even harder for her by pointing fingers.
At the end of the day Caster doesn't deserve to go through this trauma and someone should take a stand a put an end to this...NOW!!!

Why is anybody surprised by this, wasn't it obvious before tests confirmed it. Why did her family and friends and supposed supporters continually pushed her into the limelight and been blind to the situation she was going to face sooner or later.

Those who keep on screaming 'ASA', 'opportunistic politicians' and 'matter of public interest' rather than reprimanding their cousins
in Australia and Europe are forever showing their true colours.

Yho Bantu, this whole this is getting too technical for me. All I know is that Caster has been failed, by who? that I am still trying to figure out as those who should be letting us know seem to be shifting the blame instead of dealing with the problem. Gosh, uCaster ngumntana womntu madoda, and this must really be too much for her to deal with, she might be physically strong but she is not made of steel. I just hope she has enough strength to deal with whole twisted toxic thing.

@ Mbulelo Dyasi

Would you please explain how this equates to racism?? I still don't understand that.

I feel terrible for Caster, I can't even imagine what she must be going through right now (whether the rumours are true or not) and I do believe her right to privacy has been infringed upon by the media - she should sue! - BUT why the race card??

There is a lot I do not understand here. 1. She is a female, if she has no womb or uterus, does she get periods? How? What did she and her family think about that? 2. Those who took her photos before she went to berlin: of course they saw something to take photos of, why did they have to humiliate her by sending her to the world to find out about her body?

I feel sorry for her for the way she had to find out about her body imperfections.

I dont no who to say is being unfair here,ASA/IAAF. or does this have something to do with the fact that the girl is black. how i wish she was WHITE with the same looks & voice.

It is time that the Human Rights Commission steps in to protect this young woman's dignity! Itis a disgrace that we can subject another human being to all this shit! This includes all the write ups and sensationalism.


Honestly, we should stop to consider if we would want anyone to push us into this kind of 'limelight' for any reason. Not everyone is ok with being 'dehumanised' in this way!

Put a top to this kak!

Stop publishing Caster articles please, don't u think she's been thru enough already????????????

Dear Editor. Please stop running Caster Semenya stories. For her sake. For my sake. For your sake. Please find "news" to report on. I don't believe that the Mail and Guardian should carry on reporting on this matter. Intially it was news. Now it's just degrading. Please, just stop. Even better... write to SAPA/Reuters and tell them that she's "old news".

I agree with Marius.

M&G - you should be ashamed of continuing to violate this poor young woman's privacy.

Was it really essential to publish all her private details and humiliations - again ?

You shame all of us on her behalf.

Also agree with Marius.

I am deeply ashamed. This was not a private and personal attack on Semenya, it was an attack on all South Africa. She did well, and they found that she is indeed female, what steps have they taken to try and rectify their error? This whole thing shattered South Africa in a massive way, they have hurt someone who is our pride and joy.

Who watched 3rd Degree? A great deal of ino came out of that programme on the subject and from people directly in contact with Caster. Apparently she nearly didn't go because her times weren't up to scratch and then to win by such a margin is definitely going to red flag the situation. There has been a serious cock-up here and some apologies better be on the way. Sis to Mini me Malema and Winnie for making political hay!! By the way - it was Games in Berlin - not Beijing!