Semenya Withdraws from Race After Reports Say She is Intersex

One day after reports were broadcast around the world that South African middle distance runner Caster Semenya is intersexed with internal testes and no uterus or ovaries, the 18-year-old track phenomenon has decided to withdraw from a race, reports the Times LIVE SA.

Semenya has withdrawn from the women's 4km race at the South African Cross Country Championships in Pretoria on Saturday. .. On Friday morning Athletics South Africa cancelled a press conference scheduled with Semenya in Pretoria on Saturday, and later in the afternoon her coach, Michael Seme, confirmed she would not take part in her last race of the season. "We have decided that Caster will not run tomorrow," Seme said. When pushed for a reason, he added that she was"'not feeling well."

The 800-meter world champion's family is outraged gender verification test results were leaked and reports say their child is intersexed.

African National Congress MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is urging South Africans to support of Caster Semenya after reports surfaced that she is intersexed, reports News 24. Says Madikizela-Mandela: "I do not understand how any sane person can blame this child for a biological problem which is not of her making. ... Every mother and grandmother, should stand up and support the mother of this child and this child. She needs our moral support. We should tell her how proud we are of her."

Semenya Pulls Out of 4K Race [LIVE]
Caster Needs Support: Winnie [News 24]

You May Have Missed ...
SA Sprinter Caster Semenya Gets Makeover [R20]
"Elevated Testosterone" Levels in Caster Semenya [R20]
Gender Testing Ordered for Gold Medalist Semenya [R20]
Report: Semenya Intersex, Internal Testes, No Ovaries [R20]

Comments

[FREELEO]

Bravo, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela! Let's hope the people listen.

[Kobe]

From bad to worse..
This poor child's troubles keep growing. I feel so sorry for her.

And I also pray for the mean spirited and ugly comments in the news media coverage. Oh and I also pray for support on these gay blogs, you would think of all places black gay brothas would be able to support this young woman.

[TheRevKev]

TAKE OUT "INTERSEXED" and "PROBLEM...(HELLO!)" AND THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD BE BEGINNING AND ENDING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT BEING GAY AROUND THE WORLD!!!!!

[Ravenback]

You are so right Kobe. The gay blogs should be places of refuge for Caster and others in similar situations. I have no reason at all to criticize her. What did she do that was so wrong other than live her life the best way she knew how to?

[FQ]

This is an outrage and I agree with Rev Kev. We can all learn so much from the incident. Perhaps this will begin a conversation on gender and sexuality.

[FQ]

And welcome back Rev Kev!
Your wise commentary has been missed! We need you in these blogs!

[Shane Moseley]

I'm utterly appalled by the way it's been handled and the humiliating and very public procedure that she's going though.

Shame on the media and all of the hurtful comments.

And here here Kobe and Ravenback! Gay men, especially black gay men, should be very sympathetic. Thankfully the level of discussion on this blog ha sbene very supportive. Other (black) gay blogs, not so much!

[alicia banks]

i think intersexed athletes should have the right to choose to compete with either gender

sad

i was hoping she would stay and educate us all by inspiring more debate...

[DW Jazzlover]

"Listen God is trying to tell you something"! God don't make mistakes, this child is beautiful just as she is. and so are we...

[kayman]

I'm worried about the psychological health of her upon all this controversy. I'll pray for her.

There are some truly mean-spirited people in this world that needs a REALITY CHECK.

[Andy]

I think the problem she is going to face is that with an increased level of testosterone she seems to be stronger than a woman not like her. She will get no credit for her her race wins. How did she get in this situation in the first place. The person who runs their program was from east germany which was known for cheating in the olympics for years. Just a bad situation all around..