I’ve Heard It All…
Posted by VeRonda Wicks August 21st, 2009Uh, injections? Yes. Creams? Yes. Pills? Yes. Higher levels of testosterone? Yes. I thought I’d heard it all… Apparently, I hadn’t. You’ve gotta sit down (maybe lie down) for this one…
The World Championship Track and Field action is going on in Berlin and well, I got a story for ya (LOL!)! A South African teenage “girl” is under scrutiny after winning the gold medal for the women’s 800 meters. She is being accused of being a “boy”. Yep! I couldn’t even build it up any more. The thing is, she won the race by a huge margin and the crazy muscular build along with the deep voice aren’t helping her case.
Geesh! In all my days… Wow, right?
Caster Semenya just wants to run and says she has a God-given gift that she plans to exercise, but the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) suspects that she’s a guy. You know, women in track and field are known for having less than the hour-glass shape as a result of weight training and anything else that might possibly be used as a supplement. So, when I heard the story, I wasn’t a believer… But, wait! Then I saw the photos and the television coverage and, well, uh…
August 21st, 2009 at 8:35 am
I could be wrong (it is hard to tell from the picture), but I doubt she is a man. Take any of the female teenage gymnastics athletes and pump them full of steroids and they might look similar. Assuming she is a female, then the real question here is has she used steroids or other substances to gain an unfair competitive edge?
August 21st, 2009 at 9:05 am
Hi! Thanks for your recent visit to my site- I really appreciate it. Great post. I have been following this story in the news and at first thought “geez- are you kidding me?” But, I don’t know…I guess it has happened before. I just hope it all gets resolved soon. have a nice weekend~
August 21st, 2009 at 9:38 am
I saw some footage on the news too. lol. I think the bulge in the shorts says it all.
And do you mean to tell me no one questioned this before? lol. How silly.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Patti… I really enjoyed your site! I can’t imagine that this has happened before. Its the craziest thing I’ve heard in regards to sports. I just think the focus should be on cheating v. not cheating. Doing this type of testing and such can scar a child.
Sheila! OMG! The bulge? Ugh… I don’t know what to say. I don’t think anyone cares until the person wins… This is in response to your saying whether someone questioned this before. Wow!
August 21st, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Well, I remember all sorts of people in the 70s who insisted that Martina Navrotilova was a man. I don’t think anyone would have dared to insist she have tests to determine her gender.
Also those uh, very muscular, East German women in the Olympics back in the 70s as well. I don’t recall any official tests or anything (for gender), but I was just a kid, so I wouldn’t remember if they did.
I’m not sure what to think about Semenya. Have to see what happens with the tests.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:39 pm
hey what happened to my post!? i can’t recreate that beautiful diatribe i submitted! man that sucks!
Kid Funkedelic
August 21st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Ah, just read this post by Mechelle Voepel, a favorite journalist of mine who covers the WNBA. Good stuff about this issue. Incudes past cases similar to this one. You might want to check it out.
http://voepel.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/the-gender-question-part-1/
August 21st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Hey Stace… you got a point there! I think the fact that they’re asking her to take these tests has everything to do with her being South African. If she were American, this would be a crazy turn of events.
Hey Kid… wait… Let me check to see what’s going on. LOL!
August 21st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I didn’t see anything waiting to be approved for you, Kid. Sorry. You’ll just have to recreate the genious!
August 21st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Thanks, Stace!! Wow… Thanks for this. I’m going right now to check it out. This is crazy…
August 21st, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Hey Day… Yeah, I’m not exactly convinced either. I’m really concerned about her feelings and being put under this spot light.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
shelookalikeaman!
August 21st, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Wow, Jim… you get right to the point. LOL! I hope the test proves that she is a girl.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:02 pm
i’m concerned about her feelings if indeed she’s a sistah! Just think of it, you are so masculine and hard looking that the whole world questions your gender. as a kid, did she play with barbie’s or g.i.joe’s?! for her sake i hope she’s a he so that the impact on his/her self esteem won’t be so severe!
August 21st, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Wow, Kid!! You hope she’s a he?… I don’t know. I want this to pass over for her. And, I think she may be used to the gender questions, you know, from other athletes, maybe neighbors. I just want her to be okay, period. I’m glad her family is around her.
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:30 am
only wishing she’s a he for psychological reasons only. check out this story…
“Stop the Humiliating ‘Sex-Testing’ of Champion Runner Caster Semenya”
http://www.alternet.org/rights/142124/
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Hi Ventego… I’m glad to hear that things became clear for you. Thanks for dropping by.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Wow! I’m catching up on the blogs : ) I always read in bulk. This story and video really caught my attention. I can only imagine of how hurtful it would be to be accused of being a male so PUBLICLY. I hope she proves to be a female also.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Hey ReaBean… Glad you could drop by. Yeah, this story really got me. I can’t wait to hear the results on this one.