JOHANNESBURG (RSA): World champion Caster Semenya has been tested in South Africa and found to have higher-than-usual testosterone levels, but she is well within the range that allows her to participate in women’s races. Informs South African Mail and Guardian. A week after the controversy broke, fingers are starting to point to the blunders and bad management of Athletics South Africa (ASA), which has been aware of the questions raised about her eligibility to compete in women’s athletics since she started to shine in junior competitions. But the local sports body has done nothing to stem the fallout. Two sources within ASA told the Mail & Guardian this week that the body had “made sure” she was eligible to compete, not by a process of gender verification but by a standard urine test taken by all competing athletes. “She was tested three years ago when she started competing and it was found that she is a woman. She may have rather high levels of male hormones, but she is definitely a woman,” a source in ASA said.
Caster Semenya, WC 2009, August 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.
ASA has to take the blame, as they knew a problem could arise. In the end, I feel sorry that such a young person had to deal with their gender being question in the world media. ASA should be ashamed. Instead of calling the media response "racist", they should have dealt with the matter.
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