Runner Caster Semenya's Gender in Doubt

Caster Semenya, an 18-year-old South African runner, is coming under suspicion after winning the 800-meter race at the World Championships in Berlin Wednesday. The runner won the race with a time of 1 minute, 55.45 seconds -- the best time in the world this year.

The IAAF, the world governing body for track and field, asked South African officials to conduct a gender test to determine whether Semenya is in fact female. The request was made three weeks ago after Semenya competed in a race in Mauritius (an island country off the southeast coast of Africa) finishing with a time of 1:56.72, seven seconds faster than her previous best. The IAAF confirms that the tests were administered.

According to FoxNews.com her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice sparked speculation about her gender.

Semenya's coach would not confirm or deny the tests. "We entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way," said South Africa team manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane. "Our conscience is clear in terms of Caster. We have no reservations at all about that."

Results will not be available for several weeks, according to the New York Daily News , as gender verification has become much more intricate than it was in 1968, when the International Olympic Committee first called for such tests.

The Daily Mail noted that if Semenya is found not to be a female, she would be another case of gender fraud in international athletics. Female German athlete Dora Ratjen was revealed to be a man after high jump success at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the 1938 European Championships. And Polish runner Ewa Klobukowska, who took gold and bronze medals at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, was found to be a man after failing a chromosome test in 1967.

Letsrun.com posted this interview with Semenya on YouTube:

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