South African Caster Semenya, Women's 800M Gold Medal Favorite, Sparks Controversy: Is She Male or Female?

Is this a man or a woman? Well, South African Caster Semenya, 18, who took gold in the 800m World Athletics Championship, is being accused of being a man. She had to take a gender test after doubts were raised about her sex. She has sparked controversy because of her strikingly muscular physique. Officials at the IAAF, the world athletics body, disclosed that they have ordered her to take a gender test three weeks ago, but the results will not be confirmed for several week.  For starters, that's the flattest chest I have ever seen on a woman.

South African athletics chiefs furiously denied the claims and stated Semenya was definitely female. Molatelo Malehopo, general manager of Athletics South Africa, said: 'She is a female. We are completely sure about that and we wouldn't have entered her into the female competition if we had any doubts. 'We have not been absent-minded, we are very sure of her gender. We are aware of the claims that have been made but our aim at the moment is to prepare Caster for the race this evening.'

The teenager, from Polokwane in South Africa's Limpopo province, burst onto the running scene at last month's African Junior Championship in Mauritius where she clocked 1:56.72 in the 800 meters. The time was the best recorded in the world so far this year by more than a second. Source:  Daily Mail

Experts are reportedly concerned over the way she runs and the South African athletics body was urged to test her. The testing has sparked controversy in South Africa, where many have said the latest move is racially motivated. I can't imagine coming under such scrutiny and being able to perform to the best of one's ability. If she's a man, then she deserves to be kicked out of the competition and stripped of her medals for being a fraud. If she's a woman, then she'll be vindicated and continue with her career.