IAAF Can’t Decide Sex Of 880m Champ Caster Semenya
Back in August 2009, South African runner Caster Semenya captured the Women’s 800m world record at the Berlin World Championships. Initial finding suggested that Caster Semenya may be a hermaphrodite, after questions from the International Association of Athletics Federation were raised as to whether Caster was a woman or a man, and she was then forbidden to compete until results of a gender verification test came back. It’s been nearly eight months and still no results, and Caster Semenya is still waiting to compete. Payday loans may not be an option in South Africa. How’s she supposed to make a living?
Caster Semenya believes she is a woman
The month following the whole IAAF situation, Caster Semenya decided to pose for a glamorous cover story in YOU magazine. She’s comfortable with her womanhood, but the IAAF governing body still isn’t convinced. According to the UK’s Guardian newspaper, it has damaged her career and infringed upon her rights, says Semenya regarding the investigations. “Since my victory in the female 800m event at the Berlin world championships in August last year, I have been subjected to unwarranted and invasive scrutiny of the most intimate and private details of my being,” said Semenya.
Caster Semenya is not allowed to compete, even though she hasn’t been suspended or banned
What’s even more comical about this whole IAAF operation is that Caster Semenya has not even officially banned or suspended from racing. She was accommodating to a fault when she agreed not to race until the IAAF could clear up the confusion, it seems. Caster Semenya is ready to fight now. Caster Semenya and her advisers see no reason not to resume racing, especially after a long time of waiting. The gold medal and prize money for the 800m victory has already been given to her. Caster Semenya’s full comeback statement can be found on The Guardian.
Athletics South Africa encourages her to hold on
Ray Mali, chairman at Athletics South Africa, is asking Caster Semenya and her advisers to stay patient. ASA thinks Caster should wait for the result since the IAAF has promised a “speedy” process, but the IAAF has reportedly already missed several self-imposed deadlines, partially because of a change in leadership over mishandlings of the Caster Semenya issue.
For the time being, Caster Semenya is prohibited from pursuing her career of choice while the IAAF spin their wheels? If only a turnaround would be as fast as same day payday loans for Caster. In fact, it’s a tragedy that it may take the sacrifice of a promising sports career like what Caster Semenya would surely enjoy to expose just how incompetent world athletic associations have become.
