S. Africa Team Hid Semenya Gender Tests

Officials knew about testes, testosterone
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 18, 2009 5:31 PM CDT
S. Africa Team Hid Semenya Gender Tests
In this Monday Aug. 17, 2009 file photo South Africa's Caster Semenya pauses after competing in a Women's 800m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

Officials at Athletics South Africa covered up tests showing that Caster Semenya had internal testes and unusually high testosterone levels, the Mail & Guardian and Times of London report. ASA leaders told Semenya that the tests, conducted early last month, were for drugs and let her compete in Berlin—where she became the 800-meter champion and aroused questions about her gender.

ASA event's manager "said they couldn’t withdraw Semenya because they needed a medal at all costs," an official told M&G. ASA chief Leonard Chuene "didn’t even bother to brief the athlete about the developments around the tests and the implications. They destroyed an innocent girl because of a medal."
(More Caster Semenya stories.)

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