Caster Semenya

Caster Semenya

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Caster Semenya
Nationality South Africa
Born January 7, 1991 at Pietersburg, South Africa





Mokgadi Caster Semenya (1991-) is a middle-distance runner who won the 800 m at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.[1] She won gold in the 800 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics with a time of 1:55.45 in the final.

Career

Semenya participated in the 2008 World Junior Championships, and won the gold in the 800 m at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games with a time of 2:04.23.[2] In the 2009 African Junior Championships she won both the 800 m and 1500 m races with the times of 1:56.72 and 4:08.01 respectively.[3][4]

The 800 m time was the world leading time in 2009 at that date.[5] It was also a national record, championship record, and a personal best by almost four seconds. Semenya simultaneously beat the Senior and Junior South African records held by Zelda Pretorius at 1:58.85, and Zola Budd at 2:00.9, respectively.[6]

Semenya won gold in the 800 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics with a time of 1:55.45 in the final, again setting the fastest time of the year.[7] After the race, other runners raised suspicions about her gender and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) conducted a gender verification test in the weeks before awarding her the medal.[5][8][5][9][10] Semenya stated she was unconcerned about the test or the rumours and that she considered boycotting the medal ceremony as a result.[11][12][8] Reaction in South Africa towards the IAAF's actions has been mainly negative, and a number of athletes, including retired sprinter Michael Johnson, have also criticized the organization.[13][12] The head of Athletics South Africa and Semenya's family dismissed the speculation, and the IAAF explained they do not suspect cheating but wanted to determine if she has a "rare medical condition" giving her an unfair advantage.[14][15] She is reported to have three times the normal level of testosterone.[16]

The IAAF later decided to allow Semenya to keep her gold medal, title and prize money. The IAAF will treat the results of scientific gender tests confidential. At the same time, the IAAF accepted the resignation of Athletics South Africa (ASA) President Leonard Chuene from the IAAF Council and had opened a formal investigation into the handling of the Semenya affair by Chuene and ASA.[17]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Birth certificate backs SA gender. BBC News (21 August 2009). Retrieved on 21 August 2009.
  2. ↑ Young SA team strikes gold. Independent Online (16 October 2008). Retrieved on 21 August 2009.
  3. ↑ Ouma, Mark (2 August 2009). Nigerian Ogoegbunam completes a hat trick at Africa Junior Championships. AfricanAthletics.org. Retrieved on 21 August 2009.
  4. ↑ Ouma, Mark (31 July 2009). South African teen Semenya stuns with 1:56.72 800m World lead in Bambous - African junior champs, Day 2. IAAF. Retrieved on 21 August 2009.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tom Fordyce (19 August 2009). Semenya left stranded by storm. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 19 August 2009.
  6. ↑ IAAF, 31 July 2009: South African teen Semenya stuns with 1:56.72 800m World lead in Bambous - African junior champs, Day 2
  7. ↑ 800 Metres Women Final Results (19 August 2009). Retrieved on 20 August 2009.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Caster Semenya faces sex test before she can claim victory. The Times (19 August 2009). Retrieved on 20 August 2009.
  9. ↑ [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/08/19/athletics.worlds.berlin.semenya/index.html
  10. ↑ Semenya told to take gender test. BBC Sport (19 August 2009). Retrieved on 19 August 2009.
  11. ↑ Semenya 'almost boycotted medal'. BBC News (21 August 2009). Retrieved on 21 August 2009.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Semenya dismissive of gender row. BBC Sport (20 August 2009). Retrieved on 20 August 2009.
  13. ↑ South Africans unite behind gender row athlete. BBC News (20 August 2009). Retrieved on 20 August 2009.
  14. ↑ SA fury over athlete gender test. BBC Sport (20 August 2009). Retrieved on 20 August 2009.
  15. ↑ Maclean, Stewart. "Is she really a HE? Women's 800m runner shrugs off gender storm to take gold", Daily Mail, Aug 19, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-08-26.
  16. ↑ "Caster Semenya arrives home in South Africa to a heroine's welcome amid claims she has three times the normal level of testosterone", Daily Mail, Aug 25, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-08-26.
  17. ↑ IAAF agrees with Semenya keeping world title (Nov. 19, 2009). Retrieved on 2010-03-30.
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