South African runner Caster Semenya, 800m gold medalist at the Berlin World Athletics Championship competition, recently underwent a gender verification test after questions were raised due to her commanding win last month.
According to sources close to the investigation, the examination revealed that Semenya lacked ovaries and a womb but had internal testis and three times the normal amount of testosterone than considered normal. The final verdict circulating is that while she is female, she is not 100% female.
These results bring into question several issues. Will she be stripped of her medal, and to what extent did Athletics South Africa (ASA) know prior to the competition of Semenya's condition?
Since no evidence currently exists of Semenya knowingly cheating, would it be fair to take away her medal, or perhaps let her keep it and award a second gold medal?
Based on her gender test alone, she will not have to give up the medal. However, if she is found to have had an unfair advantage due to the hormone concentrations in her body, then she might have to give it up.
Athletics SA president Leonard Chuene currently d...
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