Caster Semenya South Africa's Golden Girl

****This article has UPDATES at the end and there has been another post here:

http://www.womansmojorisings.com/woman-speak/2010/3/31/caster-semenya-takes-a-stand-and-makes-her-intentions-clear.html

First off, Caster made the most beautiful run! She gave it her all and pushed to injury, and her heart and power is absolutely amazing! She has been gracious and charming in a strange land.  Her family and country, her coach and team should all be so proud of not only her win, but her strength through all the storms of controversy it produced. No doubt, she is a very Golden Girl!! And I look forward to seeing her healed and back on the track! 

My apologies the awesome and incredible film of her race has been removed from Youtube by the World Racing Federation blah-blah!  Too bad it was so glorious! 

Update on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 6:22AM by Brightfire Woman

I recommend, 'Is a Female Track Star a Man? No Simple Answer' written by Eban Harrell at Time. It is a very imformative article in that it states what was not initially stated and exceptionally well.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,191866,00.html

In summary and update:

That she was tested before she even left South Africa and her testosterone was 3 times the normal level for a female athlete, and that information was provided before the competition and was the reason for her testing.

That there was a leak in that information and the intent to test, and that it was handled insensitively.

1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta — the last Games in which all female athletes were subjected to gender testing — eight female athletes were found to be genetically male. Seven of them had androgen-insensitivity syndrome (AIS)...Olympic officials do not consider AIS to necessarily confer an advantage. The seven genetically male athletes with AIS at the Atlanta Olympics were allowed to compete as women.(Rob Ritchie)

In his paper "Intersex and the Olympic Games," Rob Ritchie, a urological surgeon at Oxford University, notes that..."it's never been proven that women found to be genetically male have any physical advantage above what might otherwise be seen in the extremes of genetically female women."

If you're listening to that last one, you heard what I heard..."WOMEN FOUND TO BE GENETICALLY MALE..." 

Time also has a very sensitve and moving slide show called Caster Semenya: trials and tributes,which shows how it has proceeded for her and family since her return home. And how beautiful she is when she is at ease and smiling on full beam.

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/029307,1918691,00.html

Update on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 2:07PM by Brightfire Woman

It has been leaked to the press (again) in Australia, that Caster has no ovaries or uterus and internal testes.  The International Association of Athletic Federations, who received the results back on September 11Th, make no confirmation or denial and will not release it's findings until November. 

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32785120/ns/sports-olympic_sports/    Runner's Dad Irate over Hermaphrodite Report

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32805547/ns/technology_and_science-science/   When someone is Raised a Female and the genes say XY by Seth Borenstein

Unless she took some illicit substance, Semenya is a female with a birth defect, simple as that, said Dr. Myron Genel, a professor emeritus of pediatrics at Yale University. He was part of a special panel of experts convened by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1990 that helped end much, but not all, genetic gender testing.

"It's no different in a sense than a youngster who is born with a hole in the heart," Genel said. "These are in fact birth defects in an area that a lot of people are uncomfortable with."

This has been the most rediculous situation.  In terms of leaks, violations of privacy and past bad scenarios of another runner of the 800 attempting suicide due to insensitive handlings of her never knew intersex status-- that this would be happening AGAIN.  I will update as this progresses.

I feel deeply for all suffering under such archaic ignorance of human sexuality, which can not be defined in such simplistic terms of this or that.     

Update on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 6:55PM by Brightfire Woman

As promised, I am tracking this (as if I could not).  This is just disgusting, yes, I understand we need to make sure that men are not disguising themselves as women to cheat... yes I understand that we need to test to see that people are not cheating with drugs, beyond that?   This is a competition of superior human beings, who were all born and developed advantaged. What are we going to do call that unfair and start using the average citizen to compete? 

Indian Athlete makes plea for Semanya

by Reporter Harmeet Shah Sing New Delhi (CNN)

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/14/Semenya.India.Athlete/index.html

Having lost her 2006 Asian Games silver for failing a gender test, India's Santhi Soundarajan has made an emotional appeal that Caster Semenya should not be subject to the trauma she went through.

To summarize, Santhi was stripped of her medal, knew nothing tell she read it, was ostracized and attempted suicide 2007 and she pleads that Semenya be allowed to keep the medal and compete as a woman. I think it is both beautiful and strong for to come forward and revisit her own trauma of media spotlight of a very personal matter to stand for Semenya. 

South Africa's Ruling ANC (African National Congress) Disgusted...

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/sports/article_212257319.shtml

Basically it has come out that President Leonard Chuene of the ASA (Athletes of South Africa) who  denied any knowledge of or tests before Semenya left Africa for the August World games has now publicly admitted to tests and having lied...

Semenya has withdrawn from public and is getting trauma counseling.