Gender row flares as Semenya blitzes women's 800m final

[laura]

This isn't pertinent to rugby at all but makes for an interesting debate. Is gender the same as sex and if the athlete is found to be genetically male does that mean that they get disqualified despite being female in every other context? This is relevant to part of one of my units at uni and I'm interested to see what others think.

Scott Gullan in Berlin
August 20, 2009 09:00am

THE controversy surrounding South African runner Caster Semenya has gripped the world championships after the runner obliterated the field in the women's 800m final.

Doubts over the gender of the 18-year-old intensified last night with Semenya's incredible performance - she beat the world's best by more than 20 metres in 1min55.45sec - leaving the crowd in the Olympic Stadium stunned.

In a clear statement of what they thought was a farce, the crowd barely applauded Semenya as she did a victory lap with the South African flag. Officials actually pulled her off the track half-way around to avoid further embarassment.

Watch a post-race interview with Caster Semenya here

Before the race, the IAAF said it was still awaiting the results of a gender verification test which it requested the South African athletics federation complete three weeks ago.

IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said the "extremely complex, difficult" test has been started but that the results were not expected for weeks.

The verification test requires a physical medical evaluation, and includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, an internal medicine specialist and an expert on gender.......

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html

[jargan83]

I have read that when someone undergoes a sex change operation they take hormones, but isn't a sex change operation effectively just cosmetic sugery?

[laura]

Genetically they still have the same chromosomes and remain the same gender they were at birth but sexually they are a different gender. IMHO I'd call it cosmetic surgery but that would probably be offensive to someone who has had the procedure.

[jargan83]

Well if it is only cosmetic surgery isn't that giving an unfair advantage to men who have this operation then seek to compete with women who were born a woman?

It's not about offendeing people, issues like this need to be examined in the cold light of day given the possibilty of unfair advantage etc

[AndyS]

I thought this (http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html) better raised some of the more problematic issues surrounding things like mosaicism, but for mine there should be a clear and definitive line in the sand. As unfortunate as it might be for certain individuals, that has to be genetic. As soon as the door opens otherwise, how soon before you get the flip side of this (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,25949068-1245,00.html) being argued?

[Working Class]

Having seen footage, I have to saw 'she' does look rather masculine in comparison to her competitors. From facial features to general build. So it could be feasible that Semenya was once male. The question is will they recognise 'her' as female if it is revealed 'she' has in fact had the appropriate surgery and has been taking the hormone therapy treatments. Though if she was born male but is now technically female could it be as cheating if she utilised her natural advantage of greater levels of testosterone.

This being done by either not taking the hormone therapy, or even taking a reduced quantity.

There is a precedent for this if 'she' is proved to be a 'he' at keast fomerly so. Remember the Australian Lady Golfer who was once male but then gained approval to compete on the Ladies PGA circuit.

Then again perhaps Semeya is all women. Usian Bolt might not be the only 'freak' at the IAAF world Champs.

[laura]

I think in the case of mosaicism the choice of which gender the person chooses to associate with is up to them and as long as they live by that decision for their lifetime then they should not be disadvantaged as to whether they can compete in sports or not. Yes both sets of chromosomes are present and that does provide advantage/disadvantage when competing but that is a genetic mutation and not a choice.

In the case of transexuality, that is a choice. After experiencing one genetic gender and then deciding to associated with the other. If Semenya is a male then genetically hormones and body mass and haemoglobin are different in a male to a female and would prove to be of unfair advantage compared to other female athletes who don't have a Y chromosome and testosterone and higher heamoglobin levels.

In the first link you gave Andy, it states the IOC's regulations in the case of gender reasignment and I think they're pretty fair, in terms of the length of time that hormones must be taken. I still think that participation should be classified by genetic gender though.

[AndyS]

In which case, you'd end up with all female competitors being mosaics. Opens a whole new world of genetic manipulation for the unscrupulous. As for the re-assignments, they'd only need some documentation from a tame doctor...probably get that over the internet.

As I say, as soon as there is not a definitive line there is scope for abuse. It may not be fair on everyone in the world, but c'est la vie - a professional sporting career is not a basic human right and sometimes life is cruel.

[Darren]

All this just because she runs fast and looks a little bit masculine - poor girl. Better be some big public apolgies if results confirm she is actually a she ...

[beige]

Telling me!

[chook]

well, if he has semen, hey, he's a guy. problem solved

[beige]

Ugh... Just... Ugh...

Welcome back!

[laura]

I like Dave Hughes' (the comedian not the journo!!) take on it.."Just because she's flat chested, has big muscles and can run fast makes her a man. Well I have big boobs, no muscles and cant run so does that make me a bloody woman?!"

[AndyS]

Overheard down the pub last night - Bolt carries on like a bitch, are they going to test him?

[Action Hardcore]

Makes me proud to be male when a she man can blow women apart like this, feels good being the superior sex.