Media Report: Caster Semenya is a Hermaphrodite

Now, here’s a novel legal question. If someone is a hermaphrodite, can they choose to run in either male or female races? That is a question that may face international sporting events after a report that an examination of Caster Semenya, 18, discovered that she has both male and female sexual organs. This one may be a slightly tougher question than our bicycle debate.

Semenya has withdrawn from the 4,000 meter race at the national cross country championships in Pretoria.

Media in Australia and England are reporting the discovery. The IAAF will not confirm or deny the story, here but her manager and team continue to deny the story.

This could make for an interesting defamation case if the reports are wrong. These newspapers, after all, are not just calling her a hermaphrodite but a liar (as well as her mother and manager who have denied the reports).

For the story, click here.