Caster Semenya Photos | Glen or Glenda of Track World?

She says she’s a woman; officials unsure

From the International Olympics Committee’s point of view, athletic competition has always been an arena where countries can set aside their political and ideological differences and enjoy the fruits of pure, honest fellowship. This is of course contrary to human nature, but the IOC continues to dream. Human beings feel a compulsion to find whatever advantage they can in life. If armed forces loans or auto financing can help provide that advantage, people latch on. When it comes to sports, human nature dictates that whenever an advantage can be gained, the time is right to play ball.

Or, in the case of Caster Semenya photos, whether there is a lack thereof.

It has happened before

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Adolph Hitler recruited a “woman” named Dora Ratjen to high jump for Germany in the 1936 Olympics. As it turned out, Dora was actually Hermann - a man who was urged to pose as a woman to sustain the illusion of Aryan superiority. He finished fourth in the Olympic event, out of the medal ceremony, but broke the women’s record two years later. Not long after setting the record, a doctor’s exam confirmed that Dora was a Hermann, and Hermann disappeared. Perhaps he went in search of armed forces loans or auto financing.

Such exams were not standard at the time. It wasn’t until the 1960s that gender testing officially began during Olympic competition. Eastern bloc nations continually found a way around that, however, as they utilized hormonal therapy that technically did not change the gender of female athletes, but gave them a muscular advantage, more masculine features and unwanted facial hair. Hormone treatments were distributed largely without the knowledge of the athletes, and in most cases also caused intense mood swings and suicidal tendencies. … click here to read the rest of the article titled “Caster Semenya Photos | Glen or Glenda of Track World?“