Caster Semenya - BBC2 now
Discussion
My understand is that her "gender test" results (which aren't actually gender tests, but that's just me being pedantic) have been kept confidential. Since that's the case, I think some speculation is inevitable. I suspect that she is intersex, with male genetic make-up and female genitalia.
Randy Winkman said:
My understand is that her "gender test" results (which aren't actually gender tests, but that's just me being pedantic) have been kept confidential. Since that's the case, I think some speculation is inevitable. I suspect that she is intersex, with male genetic make-up and female genitalia.
Like Nolar Dog?Randy Winkman said:
My understand is that her "gender test" results (which aren't actually gender tests, but that's just me being pedantic) have been kept confidential. Since that's the case, I think some speculation is inevitable. I suspect that she is intersex, with male genetic make-up and female genitalia.
You still would then? 
It's a natural problem in many sports. To be at the top you need to be stronger/faster than the other athletes. For women, those who are naturally more manly (probably have higher natural testosterone levels) will be stronger/faster so are at a natural advantage and will tend to rise to the top and hence be noticed by their competitors, governing bodies and the press.
The opposite happens with particularly feminine men (natural disadvantage in most sports) but they don't rise to the top so aren't noticed.
Governing bodies need to define what they mean by male/female, how they measure it in borderline cases and then stick by their rules. Semenya is female by the definitions of IAAF (whether those are robust enough or not is another question) but undoubtedly has a big natural advantage over many of her competitors.
That said, champion sportspeople tend to be at the extreme end of "normal" anyway.
The opposite happens with particularly feminine men (natural disadvantage in most sports) but they don't rise to the top so aren't noticed.
Governing bodies need to define what they mean by male/female, how they measure it in borderline cases and then stick by their rules. Semenya is female by the definitions of IAAF (whether those are robust enough or not is another question) but undoubtedly has a big natural advantage over many of her competitors.
That said, champion sportspeople tend to be at the extreme end of "normal" anyway.
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