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Family insist SA runner is female Family insist SA runner is female
(about 1 hour later)
The family of the new 800m world champion, South African Caster Semenya, has insisted she is a woman.The family of the new 800m world champion, South African Caster Semenya, has insisted she is a woman.
She has been dogged by controversy about her gender and the International Association of Athletics Federations has asked her to take a gender test.She has been dogged by controversy about her gender and the International Association of Athletics Federations has asked her to take a gender test.
"I know she's a woman — I raised her myself," the 18-year-old's grandmother told South Africa's Times newspaper."I know she's a woman — I raised her myself," the 18-year-old's grandmother told South Africa's Times newspaper.
Her mother Dorcus Semenya told The Star paper that doubts about her daughter's gender were motivated by "jealousy". The ruling ANC party congratulated Ms Semenya and called on South Africans to rally around "our golden girl".
"If you go at my home village and ask any of my neighbours, they would tell you that Mokgadi [Caster Semenya] is a girl," she said. "We condemn the motives of those who have made it their business to question her gender due to her physique and running style," the African National Congress said in a statement.
"Such comments can only serve to portray women as being weak."
If the teasing hurt her, she kept the hurt to herself and didn't show what she was feeling Maphuthi Sekgala Caster Semenya's grandmother Testing times for SA championIf the teasing hurt her, she kept the hurt to herself and didn't show what she was feeling Maphuthi Sekgala Caster Semenya's grandmother Testing times for SA champion
"They know because they helped raise her. People can say whatever they like but the truth will remain, which is that my child is a girl. I am not concerned about such things," she said. Her mother Dorcus Semenya told the Star newspaper that doubts about her daughter's gender were motivated by "jealousy".
"If you go at my home village and ask any of my neighbours, they would tell you that Mokgadi [Caster Semenya] is a girl," she said.
"They know because they helped raise her. People can say whatever they like but the truth will remain, which is that my child is a girl. I am not concerned about such things."
Her 80-year-old grandmother Maphuthi Sekgala said Ms Semenya had been teased when younger for her boyish looks.Her 80-year-old grandmother Maphuthi Sekgala said Ms Semenya had been teased when younger for her boyish looks.
She was also the only girl in the football team in Fairlie, a village in South Africa's northern Limpopo Province, Ms Sekgala told The Times.She was also the only girl in the football team in Fairlie, a village in South Africa's northern Limpopo Province, Ms Sekgala told The Times.
"If the teasing hurt her, she kept the hurt to herself and didn't show what she was feeling," she said."If the teasing hurt her, she kept the hurt to herself and didn't show what she was feeling," she said.
Ms Semenya won gold at the Athletics World Championships in Berlin on Wednesday, leaving her rivals trailing as she won in a time of one minute, 55.45 seconds. Ms Semenya won gold at the Athletics World Championships in Berlin on Wednesday, leaving her rivals trailing.
South Africa's athletics federation also says it is "completely sure" that Ms Semenya is a female.South Africa's athletics federation also says it is "completely sure" that Ms Semenya is a female.
What is your reaction to the issues in this story? Do you think Caster Semenya is being treated fairly? Send us your comments using the form below.What is your reaction to the issues in this story? Do you think Caster Semenya is being treated fairly? Send us your comments using the form below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions