If she looked more feminine, no one would bat an eyelid… even if she was the most attractive women in the world and also happened to be born with elevated levels of testosterone as well, still, no one would question her.
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An International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rule limiting the amount of naturally occurring functional testosterone for female athletes appeared to have restricted Semenya’s prospects but the rule was quashed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport a year ago.
As Semenya made her way to the impromptu stage set up in a section of the airport, she continued to grin as fans cheered.
There is contestation on whether or not Caster Semenya is hyperandrogenic: hyperandrogenism is the term used to describe disproportionate productions of testosterone in women. Only sufficient details as to be mortifying and shaming appear to ever leak out in the public domain.
Lynsey Sharp, the British athlete who placed sixth in the 800m final is all over the news following her show of emotion over the difficulty of competing against athletes who are believed to be hyperandrogenic.
Kenya’s Margaret Nyairera Wambui took the bronze medal, while Scot Sharp set a new personal best of 1:57:69.
A suggestion was put forward that she should even take oestrogen supplements, but that was quickly shot down by doctors who said it would screw with her system and cause more harm than good.
The Caster Semenya gender “debate” is just that though, some media hype and spice to fuel the tabloids.
And there’s the rub, or one of several in this knotty business.
The suspected intersex women who have been publicly outed are from emerging nations.
Like Semenya, Canada’s Bishop has been discreet to the point of avoiding worldwide reporters whenever possible, knowing what they likely want to ask her about.
Upset after her failure to secure her country a medal, she told BBC Sport after the race that she felt emotional about the situation: “I have tried to avoid the issue all year”.
“To be honest, we’re really not focussed on breaking the world record”, she said. We know how each other feels.
Sharp also said she has “a tremendous amount of respect for Caster”, who was lovely and gracious in victory, seeking out the women she’d just beaten to shake their hands.
That’s because The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that there was no clear evidence that athletes with hyperandrogenism have an unfair advantage over other athletes.
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Caster Semenya used her golden triumph at the Rio Olympics to speak out against discrimination she has faced in sport.
