Caster Semenya – IAAF cannot decide sex

In August 2009, South African runner Caster Semenya was named the winner of the Women's 800m world record at the Berlin World Championships. Once the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) raised the issue of whether Caster Semenya was a woman or a man and first findings indicated that Caster might be a hermaphrodite, she was forbidden from competition until gender verification tests could produce a sound conclusion. It's been nearly eight months and still no results, and Caster Semenya is still waiting to compete. Pay day loans in South Africa may not be an option. How else then will she make a living?

Caster Semenya believes she is a woman

Caster Semenya appeared on the cover of YOU magazine about a month after the IAAF snafu. Although the IAAF governing body is nevertheless not certain, Caster is absolutely comfortable with her womanhood. Semenya says that their investigation has hurt her career and infringed upon her rights, according to The UK’s Guardian newspaper. She said, "Since my victory in the female 800m event at the Berlin world championships in August last year, I are subjected to unwarranted and invasive scrutiny of probably the most intimate and private details of my being".

Although she hasn't been banned or suspended, Caster Semenya can't compete

What makes the whole IAAF operation even more disturbing in its ineptitude is that Caster Semenya has not officially been banned or suspended from racing. She was accommodating to a fault when she agreed not to race until the IAAF could clear up the confusion, it seems. She is now ready to fight. Caster Semenya and her advisers see no reason not to start racing, especially after a long time of waiting. The gold medal and prize cash for the 800m victory has already been granted to her. Here is Caster Semenya’s full comeback statement as it appeared in The Guardian.

Yet Athletics South Africa tells her to ‘hold on’

Chairman Ray Mali of Athletics South Africa has asked Caster Semenya and her advisers to remain patient. Although the IAAF has reported already missed several self-imposed time limits, whether because of a change in leadership over the mishandling of Caster's case or not, ASA nevertheless thinks Caster Semenya should wait for the results since the IAAF has assured a "speedy" process.

In the meantime, Caster Semenya is not permitted to go out and pursue her career of choice while the IAAF keep on their merry-go-round? Sure, a turnaround as fast as same day payday loans would be too much to expect, but this is ridiculous. To expose just how incompetent world athletic associations have become these days, it's going to take a sacrifice of a budding sports career like what Caster Semenya would certainly enjoy.