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ANC condemns athlete gender test SA fury over athlete gender test
(about 3 hours later)
South Africa's ruling party has backed the new 800m world champion, Caster Semenya, condemning those who have raised doubts about her gender. New 800m world champion Caster Semenya has been "humiliated" after being asked to take a gender test, says the head of South Africa's athletics body.
The ANC called on South Africans to rally around "our golden girl". Leonard Chuene also said she had been treated like a "leper".
Her family has also insisted she is a woman, after the runner was told she must have a gender test by world athletics officials in Berlin. South Africa's ruling African National Congress earlier urged the country to rally round "our golden girl".
"I know she's a woman — I raised her myself," the 18-year-old's grandmother told South Africa's Times newspaper. Her family has also insisted she is female. "I know she's a woman — I raised her myself," the 18-year-old's grandmother said.
Her mother Dorcus Semenya told the Star newspaper that doubts about her daughter's gender were motivated by "jealousy".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."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.""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."
'Masculine build''Masculine build'
In a statement, the African National Congress condemned the speculation surrounding Ms Semenya, who won gold at the Athletics World Championships in Berlin on Wednesday, leaving her rivals trailing. "I will continue to defend the girl," Mr Chuene, head of Athletics South Africa, told Reuters news agency.
"I will continue to do anything, even if I am to be kicked out of Berlin, Germany, but I am not going to let that girl be humiliated in the manner that she was humiliated because she has not committed a crime whatsoever.
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 Semenya dismissive of gender row 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 Semenya dismissive of gender row Testing times for SA champion
"Her crime was to be born the way she is born."
In a statement, the African National Congress (ANC) condemned the speculation surrounding Ms Semenya, who won gold at the Athletics World Championships in Berlin on Wednesday, leaving her rivals trailing.
"Such comments can only serve to portray women as being weak," the ANC said."Such comments can only serve to portray women as being weak," the ANC said.
"Caster is not the only woman athlete with a masculine build and the International Association of Athletics Federation should know better," the statement said."Caster is not the only woman athlete with a masculine build and the International Association of Athletics Federation should know better," the statement said.
In an interview in The Times, her 80-year-old grandmother Maphuthi Sekgala said Ms Semenya had been teased when younger for her boyish looks. In an interview with South Africa's Times newspaper, 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.She was also the only girl in the football team in Fairlie, a village in South Africa's northern Limpopo Province.
"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.
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