Sports :: National
Caster Semenya allowed to keep gold medal by Hannah Clay Wareham
Associate EditorFriday Nov 20, 2009 Athletics South Africa (ASA) announced Nov. 19 that Caster Semenya, the South African track star who won the gold medal at this past summer’s world championship, will be permitted to keep the gold medal despite the gender controversy that followed her win.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ordered gender verification tests (which are reportedly still ongoing) following Semenya’s rapid improvement over the past year, culminating in her gold medal win in Berlin.
"Whatever scientific tests were conducted legally within the IAAF regulations will be treated as a confidential matter between patient and doctor," the sports ministry said in a statement. "As such, there will be no public announcement of what the panel of scientists has found. We urge all South Africans and other people to respect this professional, ethical, and moral way of doing things."
The Australian press reported that Semenya was found to have both male and female genitalia, a statement that has not been confirmed by either ASA or IAAF.
Hannah can be reached at hclaywareham@baywindows.com.
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