General Chat

(CNN) -- South African athletics officials have rallied behind controversial new running star Caster Semenya, who won the women's world 800 meters title just hours after the sport's governing body asked for the 18-year-old's gender to be verified.

Semenya celebrates her gold, which came just hours after the IAAF called for a gender test on the athlete.
Semenya crushed her rivals by streaking away to secure victory in a time of one minute 55.45 seconds -- the best in the world this year and more than eight seconds quicker than her fastest effort of 2008.

SORRY folks

but she looks like a man and talks like one to

what do you think

What about a dna test?

I'd have to say that I agree with that. She does look and talk like a man. I guess the tests will tell the story.

Sue xx

I saw a bit of the One Show tonight where they were reading out e-mails from viewers about how to test this. Things like

"If the person walks into a room, looks round, scratches head and says 'I can't find it' then they're a man"

"If the person cannot walk past a shoe shop without looking in the window then they're a woman"

There were a few more - but the shoe shop one worked for me!!

Jill

she does look like a man
never herd her talk
time will tell xxx

hi she does look like a man didnt hear her talk no doubt they will find out

Hi
I dont know who u mean, but nowadays sumtimes its hard to tell lol
kaz xxx

Been following this story while watching the World Championship Athletics.

Certainly has a very deep voice and very flat chested.

But surely the South African Athletics Federation would not have let the athlete compete if they were worried about the gender of this person.

just had a look at her on you tube running and i am on the fence with this one sometimes i though female and then male

i am getting a bit sick of athletics cheats
it make me suspect all of them of summit or other

look at all the drugs abuse going on to
nothing now surprises me now

This person has one of the most awful personal problems of the current social world to tackle .........

in the end only she can come to terms with this in her own way ....

I really dont think we should comment on her position.

Often children born with this problem are raised as the wrong sex and are only told so later in life

a case may years ago resulted from two boys being brought up as one of each.....when the girl found out she was a he a sex changed op was done this resulted in terribel mental problems and that twin killed themselves ....two years later out of total desperation the second twin also killed themselves


i guess its a case of .."but for the grace of god go I"

I have followed this and I don't believe anyone can make a comment.

She may well have female genitalia (which has been reported) but many hermaphrodites, if that if what she is, will have gender assignment early in life. This was not available to a poor SA family. So she was raised as a girl which is what was assumed.

I feel terribly sorry for her and the way the issue was dealt with by the IAAF was absolutely insensitive.

The definitive tests will be comprehensive and sadly, for her, embarrassing.

The newspaper reports were truly vile and the editors should be ashamed of themselves for sinking to that level.

Sue

The problem is, all thats been said in the papers & on here is just speculation. Yes she, does sound & look like a teenage boy. But there are probable natural reasons for this.

I agree with SueM. The IAAFs handling of this is appalling. If this was a positive drug test. They would only confirm that an "A" sample had tested positive. The athletes identity would be withheld until the "B" sample is also proven positive...............Then they take the appropriate action.

They should have given this person the same anonymity whilst they conducted their tests.

Steve
:o)