Even though South African teenager Caster Semenya dominated the women's 800-meter race at the World Championships this week, there's a shadow over her win. Three weeks ago the International Federation asked South African track and field authorities to conduct a gender test on Semenya to make sure she is female. According to authorities, she seemingly popped out of nowhere posting a world-leading time of 1:56.72 at the African junior championships in Maruitius last month according to the Associated Press. Plus her muscular build and her deep voice had authorities questioning her gender."We entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way," South Africa team manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane told the Associated Press. "Our conscience is clear in terms of Caster. We have no reservations at all about that."
Semenya's father and grandmother came to the 18-year old's defense amid the allegations that she could be male.
"She is my little girl. ... I raised her and I have never doubted her gender," her father Jacob told a Sowetan newspaper. "She is a woman and I can repeat that a million times."
"What can I do when they call her a man, when she's really not a man? It is God who made her look that way," Semenya's grandmother Maputhi Sekgala told the South African daily The Times.
The gender test is still ongoing and requires input from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, an internal medicine specialist and an expert on gender. If it is found that she was born a male, Semenya could be stripped of her medals.
Quibian Salazar-Moreno covers the sports world for Black Voices. He's a freelance journalist based in Denver, Colorado that also covers the video game industry, iPhone games world, the music industry and a bunch of other things. Follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/q_salazar 
Comments: (54)
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By: Straight up MALE! on 8/20/2009 2:34PM
That's some wild ISH. Hell yeah, that is a man. There is no need to do any test here. The family is trying to cover up for him/her. That would be so wrong, if this person is a man and won unfairly? Strip his medals! There is nothing feminine about this individual? All I do see is that Adams Apple :-)
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By: GSA on 8/22/2009 2:08PM
Man, I'm with you. That is a dude! If not, that's one ugly-a$$ woman!!! EEWW!
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By: Lynn on 9/04/2009 9:00PM
I don't know if you all are aware of it, but there are FEMALES who like mannish due to hormone inbalances ... they are FEMALE but because the hormones are out of balance, may grow body hair where only men should have it and have muscle bulk that makes them look male. Also, hermaphrodites are people who bear the sexual organs (genitalia) of both male and female. A chromosome test should settle the question ... she's straight up something!
Lynn in New Orleans, LA.
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By: Casey on 8/22/2009 12:51AM
ok she is a WOMAN!!! But she does have some male chromosones soo she is like a hermaphadite(boy/girl)!!so please stop hatin they did test!!
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By: ang on 8/22/2009 1:57AM
Ok if its going to take such a long time to find out what gender this person is, obviously its not a matter of just looking. Therfore I think that this person should be able to keep the medals because they obviously thinks she is a female. They are going to get a gynogologist involved they have to verify how many X and Y chromosones. If the male parts are hidden in her body which sometimes happen she does not know. For her sake I hope they find all female parts cause to have this broadcasted all over the world must be devastating.
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By: Tensa on 8/22/2009 4:50AM
I think female but possibly is a Hermophradite.
Looks masculine but has female genitalia.
You would think that they checked all of this before.
I dont really want to read anymore about people's appearances, sex or colour.
Society is making me sick at the moment.
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By: autirose on 8/24/2009 5:16PM
I too am sicken by the conduct of society. I often wonder have people become filled with unclean spirits and that's the cause of their unclear meanspirtedness. It hard to determine if the person is male or female. It must hurt "her" deeply for the media to put her business out. WOW1
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By: angela bagley on 8/22/2009 12:10PM
I feel sorry for you!! I really beleive that black people intimidate you. Iw ant you to ealize this, no one person is the same. African_American people have come along way. We are a strong people that have overcome so many adversities. We are only getting stronger. Realize that finances is what keep are black people struggling. Once we learn to prioritize and build wealth, look out world!!!!
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By: maurice on 8/22/2009 1:43PM
LOL!!! Look at history and I think you would take the statment back.
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By: yes on 8/22/2009 3:22PM
I can see in the eyes that is a guy, that is not a female and the truth is going to come out.
Thats not a female looking hard, or gender foolishness, that is a guy.
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