Caster Semenya-not trying in races

Old story, but yes, It is barely breaking a sweat in recent races. But at World's It will win in convincing fashion. To hear It speak only confirms that It is not female.

Noticed that too.

Wouldn't it be interesting if Caster basically runs an entire career of getting 2nd place. No matter the race, the pace, the competition, the stakes, just get 2nd place in everything so no one gets mad. One could make a good living off that, and since it doesn't seem to be much of a struggle, Caster could run every Diamond League race all season long, getting 2nd place, and win the overall - in the years the 800 is a DL event, of course.

I am curious if the IAAF has directed her to engage in hormone treatments to lower her testosterone level. Query how that would be checked, and with what frequency? Certainly there are posters here with a better grasp of the science of this sport than me, and would like to hear the comment.

I feel for her personally, and she clearly (as she has every right to do) expresses herself as a woman. And she has had a helpful impact on society at large, recognizing that gender attributes lie on a continuum, and not everyone can easily fit in the accepted binary categories. But she has had, and will continue to have, a negative impact on women's athletics.

Well, her case is closed and details are sealed for privacy purposes, so we'll never REALLY know what happened, what was decided, and how she is tested by the IAAF.

However, it was revealed that Caster had two undescended testicles. How much testosterone these were producing is unknown, but they are a grave health risk, as it significantly raises the cancer risk in testicular germ tissue

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001101/2037.html

. The last I saw on this finding from Caster's case is that that the IAAF was recommending surgical removal "for her own health and safety" or something along those lines. Never did they mention testosterone levels.

I would like to know how Caster's testosterone level compares to the 09 WC 800m final field - both then and now.

I think if she wants to play it safe, she'll have to do the same at worlds. If she wins gold or (god forbid) even sets a WR, she'll be taken out.

It is interesting, but not surprising that she is running times equivalent to the fully roided up Soviet and Eastern Bloc women from back in the 60s and 70s.

It was a bit much when she got her phone out at the bell and spent the entire second lap texting her agent about which place to finish in.

The Stache wrote:

However, it was revealed that Caster had two undescended testicles. How much testosterone these were producing is unknown,

Never did they mention testosterone levels.

I would like to know how Caster's testosterone level compares to the 09 WC 800m final field - both then and now.

That's what was rumored and possibly leaked but it is all conjecture, honestly. We don't know. I personally believe she is having some sort of hormone replacement to compete but that is my personal conjecture.

Despite people posting that she looked like running on cruise control, I don't think she will ever run faster than she did in '09, I guess that remains to be seen.

The Stache wrote:

Well, her case is closed and details are sealed for privacy purposes, so we'll never REALLY know what happened, what was decided, and how she is tested by the IAAF.

However, it was revealed that Caster had two undescended testicles. How much testosterone these were producing is unknown, but they are a grave health risk, as it significantly raises the cancer risk in testicular germ tissue

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001101/2037.html

. The last I saw on this finding from Caster's case is that that the IAAF was recommending surgical removal "for her own health and safety" or something along those lines. Never did they mention testosterone levels.

I would like to know how Caster's testosterone level compares to the 09 WC 800m final field - both then and now.

Well since the most likely cause of her problem is AIS then she wouldn't respond to the testosterone anyway.

Well, like Mr. Obvious pointed out regarding my post, this is mostly conjecture and speculation. We don't know if she had AIS. AIS was talked about a lot in the ensuing times by the medical panels and commentators and IAAF investigation, but no one ever attributed this condition to Caster. With a physique like that, though, Caster's body has to have SOME kind of response to testosterone.

The Stache wrote:

However, it was revealed that Caster had two undescended testicles. How much testosterone these were producing is unknown, but they are a grave health risk, as it significantly raises the cancer risk in testicular germ tissue

Yes, of course people with testicles are at a higher risk of testicular cancer. And for most "women" who have them, it would be best to remove them, also for other reasons. But Caster benefits from them. She can always have them removed when her career is over. The risk of t. cancer while in her 20's shouldn't be that high.

Yepseenthattoo wrote:

Yes, of course people with testicles are at a higher risk of testicular cancer. And for most "women" who have them, it would be best to remove them, also for other reasons. But Caster benefits from them. She can always have them removed when her career is over. The risk of t. cancer while in her 20's shouldn't be that high.

No, dude. The risk of cancer is quite high (as these things go) in undescended testicles, no matter age. So, even men with an undescended testicle have a much higher risk of cancer than regular men.

The Stache wrote:

No, dude. The risk of cancer is quite high (as these things go) in undescended testicles, no matter age. So, even men with an undescended testicle have a much higher risk of cancer than regular men.

How many of those get it in their 20's?

Is anyone else tired of all this Political Correctness bullshit that allows Caster to race against women? The dude has TESTICLES. Testicles = not a woman. Not that hard.

What is her progression like?

There is race on youtube in 2008 a year prior to her 1:55 where she could not get past the 1st round at the World Championships JUNIOR race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJfbSUquSXc

The Stache wrote:

...

However, it was revealed that Caster had two undescended testicles.

...

source?

Harris Hilton wrote:

What is her progression like?

Her progression from 2008 to 2009 was unreal, like 10 sec or so. This is impossible for a woman at that level. Even for a man it is hard but not unheard of.

My Lawd wrote:

Is anyone else tired of all this Political Correctness bullshit that allows Caster to race against women? The dude has TESTICLES. Testicles = not a woman. Not that hard.

Just pointing out AGAIN that this assumes facts not in evidence.

You can have partial AIS.

The Stache wrote:

Well, like Mr. Obvious pointed out regarding my post, this is mostly conjecture and speculation. We don't know if she had AIS. AIS was talked about a lot in the ensuing times by the medical panels and commentators and IAAF investigation, but no one ever attributed this condition to Caster. With a physique like that, though, Caster's body has to have SOME kind of response to testosterone.