MKRob Sports

If Semenya is an XY genetic male with undescended testes and no uterus or ovaries she is a male with a 'birth defect' if you want to call it that, or a 'condition.' The situation may be socially complex, but it is not really biologically that complex. There are many more biologically complex situations that this one. Traditionally the problem with this condition is that a male without a penis is denied access to the male social role. It is not usually true that the person is raised male and then begs to be assigned a female role – it is usually the other way around – the female role is forced on a male because he does not have a penis. If Semenya is genetically XY 'he' received the conventional treatment and was assigned a female gender role simply because 'he' did not have a penis.

If Semenya is a genetic female with XX chromosomal makeup but has some kind of hormonal issue such as CAH – congenital adrenal hyperplasia – a condition in which other adrenal hormones are turned into testosterone at the point of the receptor cells, and if this occurred before birth, she might in fact grow a penis, although she usually still has a uterus and ovaries. Women like this, with or without a penis are often physically more muscular than other women. Genetic women, with or without a penis, with or without a uterus or ovaries, sometimes have more testosterone than other women, and those who do are often especially strong athletes – this is part of what it means to be a woman. That she encourages her body to produce more androgens – progesterone as well as testosterone – is part of a woman's goal in sports training.

However, a genetic male with undescended testes is in essence a biological male simply without a penis, and could have a huge and unfair advantage over most genetic females in producing and responding readily to androgens. He would also lack the usual estrogenic hormones that might tend to limit muscular growth and conserve energy. This person simply could not be allowed to compete with women as a female.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is a condition where the adrenal gland can only produce testosterone, the androgen and aldosterone hormones can be supplimented by a steroid called hydrocortisone. My daughter has CAH, there is not a lot of literature about this condition, but it most definately is not considered being a hermaphrodite. An enfant born with CAH has either an XX or XY chromosone not both. It is extremely infuriating reading all the BS on this poor girl, she was an outcast when she was young and now she is being outcasted now that she has won a medal!!!! GOOD for her!!!!! I can only assume from her appearance she did not get the medical attention she needed (hormone replacement) ie hydrocortisone. My daughter has been on hydrocortisone since birth and is very much a beautiful little girl, without the hydrocortisone she would grow facial hair, have a masculine build and have a deep voice. It is very disturbing to me that people are so shallow that they would look down on someone with a medical condition such as CAH…….. would you look down on someone if they were born with cancer? Get your facts straight before you start bashing people!!!!!! Stop being afraid of the unknown and spend more time educating yourself about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!