Athlete could be disqualified over gender doubts

Caster Semenya, right,crosses the finish line during the women's 800 meters semi-final.
Picture: Reuters

South African 400m sensation Caster Semenya could be ruled out of Wednesday night's Women's 800m final due to concerns about whether she is a man or a woman.

The 18-year-old has emerged in recent months as a sensation in the event and won her semi-final in commanding fashion at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Monday night, eliminating Olympic Champion Pamela Jelimo along the way.

But the South African's physique and powerful style have sparked speculation in recent months that she may not be entirely female. Similar allegations have dogged a series of athletes throughout the years, including Maria Mutola, the Mozambican 800m legend who won Olympic gold in Sydney and also triumphed at three World Championships. IAAF rules state that ompetitors must be entirely female to compete in women's races but some people are born with a mixutre of chromsomes and display both male and female characteristics.

The Age understands that governing body, the IAAF, has been conducting a series of tests on the South African, including physical checks and genetic screening and that results have now been obtained.

Officials are meeting to discuss the matter this afternoon, German time, and there is a strong likelihood that the teenager from Pretoria will be disqualified from the final, to be held tonight.Semenya has come form nowhere this year to stamp herself upon the sport. She grabbed attention with a time of 1:56.72 last month, the quickest time in the world this year.

Another memorable case of gender confusion is Stella Walsh, the Polish sprinter who won a silver medal at the 1936 Olympics in the very same stadium where Semenya is commpeting tomorrow. Walsh was a commanding figure who also won Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 1932 but when doctors examined her after her death in 1988 it was revealed that she had "ambiguous genitalia'' and was more male than female.