The South African sports ministry declared that runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800 meter gold medal from the world championships. In addition, the results from her gender tests will not be released. A little late for that.
The ministry also disclosed that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will allow the 18 year old Semenya to keep the prize money.
The sports ministry explained that “whatever scientific tests were conducted legally within the IAAF regulations will be treated as a confidential matter between patient and doctor.” This means no one will definitively know the truth, though the information leak which happened when the tests first started pretty much paints the whole picture even if the officials refuse to acknowledge anything. The sports ministry is urging “all South Africans and other people to respect this professional ethical and moral way of doing things.”
Unfortunately, this is of no comfort to the female athletes who have been training their hearts out, only to be surprised by an unknown South African runner at the world championships. Some maintain that Semenya should not be allowed to run in any women’s events again.
The IAAF has publicly said the gender tests have not yet been completed. The body was planning on announcing its findings Friday, but alas, that’s not to be.
Prior to the 800 meter finals in Berlin, the IAAF ordered gender tests on Semenya, owing to her muscular build and unnatural improvement in times. Understandably, South Africa was outraged, and accused the IAAF of violating her privacy. South African track officials were castigated for failing to protect her.
No matter how the Semenya case turns out, the question is now out in the open. Should a hermaphrodite be allowed to compete against women?