SOUTH AFRICA: Angry reactions to report that tests on its world champion runner Caster Semenya had found she was a hermaphrodite
Record ID:
454837
SOUTH AFRICA: Angry reactions to report that tests on its world champion runner Caster Semenya had found she was a hermaphrodite
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Angry reactions to report that tests on its world champion runner Caster Semenya had found she was a hermaphrodite
- Date: 12th September 2009
- Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2009) (REUTERS) CAMERAMEN/NEWS CONFERENCE PANEL (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER OF SPORTS AND RECREATION, MAKHENKESI STOFILE, SAYING: "The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has noted with shock and disgust media stories circulating around the world on the so-called results of the gender tests conducted by the IAAF on Miss Mokgadi Caster Semenya, our 800 world athletics champion. What is disconcerting is that the pattern being followed in releasing these purported results is the same as the one used when Miss Semenya's humiliation started on the 18th of August, which is when we first heard of this- it was the 18th of August." JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER OF SPORTS AND RECREATION, MAKHENKESI STOFILE, SAYING: "I would've expected at the minimum that he would have either given us a call or sent us an email to alert us, as they say, to this leak, the leak of the results. Mind you, we are not questioning the leak or how these things got to the media, that is not our focus. Our focus is why was Semenya subjected to tests, who's permit the testers got to do that and what were they were looking when they subjected her to those tests and why. That is what we want to know from them. The leaks or how the leaks were made and who made them, that is neither here nor there, of course it is here now because it is a public discourse on intricate personal things, matters that affect a young South African citizen and we think her rights have been violated in that respect and indeed her privacy intruded into." VARIOUS OF MINISTER ADDRESSING MEDIA
- Embargoed: 27th September 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAF38B0V8GNIO8LPMV072ZCHFRG
- Story Text: The South African government views the release of Caster Semenya's gender test results as unethical, the country's sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile said at a news briefing in Pretoria on Friday (September 11).
Athletics' governing body declined to confirm the report in Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper, which said the 18-year-old runner had both male and female sexual characteristics.
The IAAF said medical experts were examining the results of gender tests on Semenya, who won the women's 800 metres at last month's World Championships in Berlin. No decision would be taken until late November.
Stofile told a news conference his ministry had "noted with shock and disgust" media reports on the test results, which the South African government had not yet received.
"The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has noted with shock and disgust media stories circulating around the world on the so-called results of the gender tests conducted by the IAAF on Miss Mokgadi Caster Semenya, our 800 world athletics champion. What is disconcerting is that the pattern being followed in releasing these purported results is the same as the one used when Miss Semenya's humiliation started on the 18th of August, which is when we first heard of this- it was the 18th of August," Stofile said.
Semenya, who won gold at the world athletics championships in Berlin, became the subject of controversy when questions over her gender and whether or not she had competitive advantage over her competitors were first reported in the media.
"Why was Semenya subjected to tests, who's permit the testers got to do that and what were they were looking when they subjected her to those tests and why. That is what we want to know from them. The leaks or how the leaks were made and who made them, that is neither here nor there, of course it is here now because it is a public discourse on intricate personal things, matters that affect a young South African citizen and we think her rights have been violated in that respect and indeed her privacy intruded into," said Stofile.
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma came to the defence of Semenya on Friday and criticised the media for invasion of privacy.
"I don't know why we should not respect the privilege between the doctor and the patient. Why, when the tests have been done, why was it published? Why must it be the media issue in the first instance, so we can then begin to debate the issue," said Zuma at a press conference in Kleinmond after meeting leaders of the European Union.
"I think you are not picking up the issues that ought to be picked up, the respect to this young girl that we are in fact violating the rights, it becomes difficult really to move on discuss issues and not discuss the basic issues that we are actually violating," he continued.
Semenya, who was due to compete in a cross country race in Pretoria on Saturday (September 12), in her first competition since claiming the world title, withdrew from the event. Semenya's coach Michael Seme said that she was not "feeling well."
Nick Davies, spokesman for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), said media reports on the gender test results should not be considered as official statements by the sports body.
Some South Africans have accused the IAAF of racism for ordering the gender tests on Semenya, saying her broad shoulders and imposing musculature are common in women's athletics.
The controversy may have touched a raw nerve in a country where race is still a highly sensitive issue after decades of apartheid, which ended in 1994.
The militant Youth League of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) said in a statement: "Even if a test is done, the ANC YL will never accept the categorisation of Caster Semenya as a hermaphrodite, because in South Africa and the entire world of sanity, such does not exist." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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