There's an update to the story of19-year-old Caster Semenya, the South African middle distance champion who was at the center of a global controversy when she was ordered to submit to gender verification after winning the 800 meters at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Berlin. Athletics South Africa has told Semenya she must wait until June when the testing results are known, reports The Guardian.
The world 800m champion released a statement yesterday indicating her intention to return to the sport immediately, just hours after the ASA said her return would have to wait until the conclusion of testing by the IAAF. In response to Semenya's statement ASA's spokesman, Richard Stander, said: "The IAAF have said the scientific team is due to report back in June, so we are waiting for that."
Semenya has not competed since her victory at the World Championships in Berlin last summer. The 19-year-old had been led to believe she would hear the decision last November but, in frustration at the long delay, released a lengthy statement yesterday apparently in an attempt to speed up a resolution. Semenya's statement read: "I am an athlete first and foremost and it is vital for my competitiveness, my well-being and for my preparations for events during the European summer that I measure my performance against other athletes. "I hereby publicly announce my return to athletics competitions. My coach, agent and I will work closely together to identify and prepare for a limited number of athletics meetings over the course of the coming athletics season."
Testing results were leaked last summer that revealed Semenya is intersexed with internal testes and no uterus or ovaries. Several South African sports officials, who were dismissed, were aware of Semenya's medical condition but did not tell her. Semenya was allowed to keep her gold medal.
R20's Coverage
on Caster Semenya ...
SA Athletics Chief
Admits Lying About Tests
Semenya In Trauma Counseling After
Tests Leaked
Semenya Withdraws from Race After
Intersex Reports
SA Sprinter Caster
Semenya Gets Makeover
"Elevated Testosterone" Levels in
Caster Semenya
Gender Testing Ordered for Gold
Medalist Semenya
Report: Semenya Intersex, Internal Testes, No Ovaries
I feel bad for this young woman. All I can do is sit here and shake my head.
Posted by: W. McCrae | 31 March 2010 at 18:17
They need to do whatever they are gonna do and stop holding her up. Either shes in or out.... DON'T DRAG THIS OUT! She has been through enough.
Posted by: Isis | 31 March 2010 at 21:19