I JUST could not restrain myself from commenting again on the plight of Caster Semenya, the South African Olympic champion twice in the women’s 800-m run.
Hers is the compelling story of an athlete too much superior over her rivals that officials of her event’s governing body wanted to change her anatomy in a bizarre bid to balance the level of competition.
In laboratory tests, Semenya was found to have high testosterone (male hormones), giving her additional power and energy not found among normal females.
When she was 18, Semenya said she was subjected to gender verification tests that included an intrusive physical examination in the buildup to the 2009 world championships without being told of or apprised the nature of the tests.
After emerging champion in Berlin, Semenya said she was taken to a hospital again where the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) conducted another test.
Semenya told The Associated Press’s Gerald Imray that the IAAF did not ask her if she wanted to undergo the tests.
After her harrowing experience in 2009, Semenya said she reluctantly agreed to take testosterone-suppressing oral contraceptives from 2010-2015 recommended by the IAAF so that “I could continue running.”
As a result, she said she gained weight, she felt constantly sick, she had regular fevers and she suffered abdominal pain.
Last May, the Court of Arbitration for Sports voted 2-1 allowing Semenya to continue running but only if she chooses one of three medical options to reduce her testosterone: A daily contraceptive pill, a monthly hormone-blocking injection or surgery.
She fought back and elevated her appeal to the Switzerland Supreme Court, which ruled in Semenya’s favor on human-rights grounds.
But Semenya’s victory is only temporary as the Swiss Supreme Court will still have to hear her “full appeal.”
Still, Semenya is ecstatic even as she said she was “insulted and hurt” when told that IAAF documents had labeled her as “biologically male” and “telling me that I am not a woman.”
Now 28, the holder, too, of three world crowns, Semenya vowed she would not allow the IAAF to use her as a “lab rat” again.
Experts label the IAAF method as unethical, bolstering Semenya’s stand to refuse to take medications to alter what she calls her genetic gifts.
Indeed, if Semenya was born different from the rest, why take that against her?
Why deny what God has given her?
Why alter what God has made of her?
Is there a better tailor than God?
THAT’S IT Did I read the latest news correctly? That Joey Romasanta said that Alan Peter Cayetano is the rightful man in charge of overseeing the preparations of the SEA Games in Manila in November-December? That the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will just handle the technical aspect of the Games when the events are finally on, in accordance with what Romasanta said was the mandate given to the POC by the SEAG Federation? What a huge turnaround…. And, as I write this, POC Chairman Bambol Tolentino was supposed to call an election yesterday for the POC president following the stunning resignation last week of Ricky Vargas. If Tolentino fulfilled his promise, did the General Assembly accede to Bambol’s motion? Was Romasanta, the acting POC president, allowed to run for POC president even if the POC Charter only allows presidents of national sports association to run for POC president? Romasanta being only the vice president of volleyball, he is disqualified outright. The plot thickens.