Caster Semenya: a name most of you may or may not know. For those of you who have no idea who this is I will enlighten you. Caster is a world class track athlete from South Africa. The reason I do not say if Caster is a man or a women is the simple fact that she is neither. That’s right, she is a hermaphrodite.
One may be wondering why I would bother with such a topic? Well, to answer this, those of you that are not familiar with Caster and what has happened in the track world I feel like there is a legitimate reason for writing about this issue. During the World Championships in Berlin in August, Caster Semenya ran in the women’s 800 meter race. Caster won the race with ease which got her the gold medal. Getting a gold medal at the World Championships is the next best thing to a gold medal at the Olympics. As fast as Caster ran the 800 meter race, news about “her” not having all female parts spread like wild fire. The debate of whether or not Caster was a female or not began, and whether or not she should be allowed to retain the gold medal.
The definition of a hermaphrodite is: something that is a combination of disparate or contradictory parts. Simply put, something has parts that is should not have and in Caster’s problem, having male and female parts would qualify as being a hermaphrodite. Now I must state here that I have absolutely no problem with hermaphrodites when it was a biological problem and not a choice. In Caster’s case, it was a biological problem.
How does an organization such as the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) go about a situation such as Caster Semenya. First off, I think the IAAF should have already had an official, clear rule saying that all athletes must be 100% male or female at birth. Why should this be a rule? Well, would it be fair for a really talented male athlete that isn’t quite good enough to win on the big stage to decide to get a sex change and win on the female side? Most likely not, because as we have seen, not that this is an anti-female argument, most male athletes can run, throw, jump, or whatever more than females (at the professional level). In Caster’s case, there was found to be more testosterone then estrogen in Caster’s body which makes her more like a male on the playing field (even though there were female attributes).
Now, since there was no such rule and Caster was allowed to run in the female race, the next question is: is Caster Semenya allowed to keep the gold medal? I feel really bad for Caster because this is not an easy question to answer. Regardless of being male or female, to get to that level of competition, it takes time and dedication (and occasionally some good drugs). However, I feel that since there is this un-written rule about being 100% male or female in whichever side one is on, Caster should be stripped of her gold medal. My reasoning is simple, she is not 100% female and she was racing against females that are 100% female and it is not fair to them because they put in the hard work to get there too only to be cheated out of a medal.
The final question is: Should Caster or other hermaphrodites be allowed to participate at the highest level of competition? The IAAF has a real problem on their hands because the side that would want hermaphrodites to compete would say, “at least they are not taking performance enhancing drugs.” They have a case, however, as I have stated before, female athletes at the world class level would not want to be facing males at the world class level, that got a sex change, or females that have mostly male qualities. Therefore, to play it safe, the IAAF should now make a rule saying there needs to be proof that the athletes are 100% either male or female at birth. I am glad that they have stepped up their game on the performance enhancing drugs, now it is time to take a stance here. Of course there are going to be people unhappy with the decision, but to ensure good, fair competition, this is the way it needs to be.
If you are interested in reading more about the Caster Semenya case check this out: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=79&art_id=vn20090914040154714C773187
I think making a rule saying they have to be 100% female/male at birth is ridiculous because now Caster would never be able to compete in the IAAF again, which isn't fair because she is a dedicated athlete and would be banned for essentially a deformity at birth which she had no control over. In Caster's case she is a female pseudohermaphrodite, which means she has mostly female attributes with SOME male attributes. In her case, she has internal testes that produce testosterone. The reality is is that IF she has surgery to remove her internal testes, she is now a complete woman because she would not have a "testosterone factory" in her. I too don't have a problem with hermaphrodites, they are people too. I am among the belief that they shouldn't have to choose a sex and as a society we should be accepting of a middle sex instead of clinging to the male/female binary. BUT..... track and field is one of those cases where the male/female binary is the only thing that keeps the sport in order. It has to be segregated because of the obvious biological differences between males and females. If we eliminated this binary then it would become a male sport and females would be pushed aside. They couldn't create a hermaphrodite division because no one would show up and then there are men with female attributes that don't make testosterone. My feeling is that Caster should keep her medal for standing up and having the courage to compete, but shouldn't be allowed to compete from here on out in IAAF sanctioned events unless she has surgery to make her 100% female (or male if she chooses).
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