Newsworthy Archive

The 18 year old middle distance runner from South Africa has been the cause of much debate these days as she continues to break records. Her most recent gold medal coming from the women’s 800-meter race at the World Championships in Berlin. With a winning time of 1:55.45 she left her closest competitor behind in second place by 2.45 seconds. Her performances along with questions raised by competitors and others alike have caused the governing body to give her a gender verification test.

The International Association of Athletics Foundation (IAFF) has demanded Semenya to take a gender test to be certain that she is to compete as a woman. The test has been met with a great deal of uproar by many who are appalled and critical of the way the IAFF handled the situation. Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson has expressed his opinion and displeasure about the manner in which IAFF handled the confidentiality of the situation. Leonard Cheane, the president of Athletics South Africa (ASA) has even resigned from his seat on the board of IAFF in protest of their treatment of Semenya. The comprehensive tests are ongoing and results may not surface for several weeks. The test is a detailed analysis of testosterone levels.

Despite the controversy, Semenya has been welcomed with open arms in her hometown after winning. In her hometown of Limpopo, she is an inspiration to many young girls who watched her rise from the rural area.