Caster Semenya, South African Runner: She's a Man, Baby! (kinda)
A source, who is said to be close to the IAAF investigation, claimed that the 18-year-old athlete, Caster Semenya, had internal testes and no womb or ovaries.
The IAAF, the world governing body, refused to comment on the claim last night, but earlier in the day its general secretary, Pierre Weiss, said: “It is clear that she is a woman but maybe not 100 per cent.” If Semenya does have internal testes, and no womb and ovaries, then she would be considered a hermaphrodite.
The IAAF is still lacking the South African tests, which it wants to back up its own findings. At yesterday’s press conference at the World Athletics Final in Salonika, Greece, Mr Weiss said: “We have to see if she has any advantage from her possibly being between two sexes.”
Semenya was believed to have gone into hiding last night and it is understood she is unlikely to appear in her first race since winning the gold last month.
Sportsbook.com offered odds on whether Semenya was a man or woman by sex test. The odds were -175 that tests would show she is "all woman". If she's a "man" or "other" the payout would be US$12.50 for every US$10.00 bet.
