Caster Semenya Must Be Tested for Gender

Unfortunately there is very little that in this world that politicians can not abuse to score political points, seek popularity and be seen to be fighting for the cause of the people. As someone said this past week "when the athletics world stops talking about Usain Bolt..who broke two world records in amazing fashion within a week...then there must be something absolutely significant that has happened." This event is "Caster Semenya", the 18 year old South African who won the 800m female race at the IAAF event in Berlin this past week. She appeared literary from nowhere, was not at the Beijing Olympics last year and was was not known in the wider world until she rocked up in Berlin and beat her more experienced (and better sponsored ) competitors by such a margin, that she could have gone and taken a shower and get herself a drink afterwards before the other girls crossed the finish line.

But because she has a deep voice, muscular structure and physical appearance that resemble that of a man, the debate around her gender (is Cater male or female?) just exploded. It was already there (though low key) in the months and days building up to the IAAF event. It became significant when it became clear that she was faster than any of the 800m female competitors. If Caster had come last in the heats before the final and if she had been knocked out in the early rounds and therefore had no chance of winning anything, no one would have noticed her or even started to wonder if she was male or female.

Unlike the many politicans and sports leaders in South Africa who have started politicising the issue and seeing it as a racist attack by the whites on this poor African girl and all Africans in general, my opinion is that these politicians and leaders are playing cheap politics. The issue of Caster's gender is not primarily a political or racial matter. To accuse the whites and the IAAF of being racist reveals a level of ignorance or an attempt to mislead people that is disgusting. This however does not mean that there is no racism in sports, but one must not behave as if Caster is the first balck person to win against whites in international sport. Michael Johnson (the US athlete) broke a number of world records in the 200m race is black. The best soccer player, Pele, is black. The best basketball player who ever lived (Michael Jordan) is black, Usain Bolt himself is black, as well as many black male and female athletes who have beat white athletes in many competitions.

The question around Caster's gender is firmly based on the fact that international sports is big business these days. Forget the winner's prize (significant as it might be), the endorsement deals, sponsorship deals and other benefits (fame, publicity, TV appearances etc.) that come after winning major international events can be significant. We all are amazed at English premiership football players who earn 100 000 british pounds a week and think that's lots of money, but they actually make millions outside football by endorsing products and being part of commercials on TV and on billboards. Because of the huge stakes in international sport, it is only fair and just that anybody who plays the game is seen to abide by the rules. Any suspicion of anything untoward must be investigated. The fact that sport competitions are conducted separately for males and females mean that only females must participate in female events and only males in male events. Just like events that are conducted for certain age groups only (e.g. Under 17 or Under 23 soccer world cup etc.) which must be ensured that only players who meet the criteria participate.

International sport is brutal (because of the huge commercial stakes) and whoever participates in it must not be naive to believe that they can still have their privacy. As soon as one gets to the international scene, one becomes "public property". That could be seen as unfortunate, but it is reality. David Beckham, Usain Bolt, Kobbie Bryant, Ronaldo and Caster Semenya are "public property." Because they are in the limelight, whatever they do becomes public knowledge. If David Beckham is seen with another woman other than his wife under suspicious circumstances, that becomes headline news. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is another debate, but there is no debate around the fact that, this is now reality. Those who manage Caster should have coached her in this regard, that as soon as she starts appearing on Sky Sport, ESPN, BBC, CNN etc., she can forget about privacy. Whatever is newsworthy about her whill be discusssed without any reservation, and not just her running. The world will want to know who her boyfriend is, where did she sleep last night and whether she has smoked dagga before.

Since there is debate and no clarity (even among black South Africans) whether Caster is male or female, it is only fair and just that she be tested. The vast majority of those who say she is female do so on the basis of what Caster, her family and those close to her have said. But almost all black South Africans who have seen pictures of Caster, heard her voice and observed how she moves have said that she indeed appears like a man. It is not her fault that she is the way she is, she did not make herself the way she is, but since she has entered the public arena, registered to compete in public in a female event (and girl she can run) and any average person could have reasonable doubt about her gender without one being called stupid or naive or sexist, it is fair for the entire world that she be tested. As already mentioned these doubts are not only among whites, even blacks who have seen her have indicated that she indeed has very significant male features.

Therefore put the politics aside and look at the facts and issue. Of course one can critisize the IAAF or South African athletics authorities who should have seen this coming and should have been proactive and clarify this matter way in advance. The fact that they are now dealing with is after she won the gold medal might appear to be vindictive.

Caster Semenya must be tested for her gender not necessarily for her to know whether she is male or female, but for the sake of the entire world to close the chapter. Even if the IAAF rules on gender testing are fuzzy, she herself (and those managing her) must welcome and insist on a thorough test to clarify the matter. It is almost like someone who has been accused of a crime but believes in his/her innocence and therefore insists that they be cleared by a court of law. Anything less than that will leave a cloud hanging over one's head for the rest of their lives.
If she doesn't test, the media will not stop to raise the issue and she would not be able to handle the pressue of the public eye and not be able to prepare for future events and this might be the first and last big event she ever participated in.