Tuesday, August 25, 2009

South Africans defend golden girl, calling accusers 'Europeans'

The International Association of Athletics Federations announced last week that Semenya would have to undergo a series of gender verification tests.

SHOOT: It's becoming more and more common in this country; someone says something you don't like or don't agree with - they're racist.
clipped from www.sowetan.co.za
No concerns had been raised at previous competitions about Caster Semenya’s gender, Athletics SA president Leonard Chuene said on Tuesday.

"We are not going to allow Europeans to describe and define our child... we will define our child," he told a press briefing at OR Tambo International airport.

Semenya had been "traumatised" by the "international hostile media".

The 18-year-old runner did not address the briefing and sat alongside fellow gold-medal winner Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and silver medallist Khotso Mokoena, along with ANC MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

Malema announced that the league was giving Semenya R60,000 to "relax".

ANC MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela told the briefing nobody would be allowed to conduct a gender test on Semenya.

"They can stuff their insults, this is our little girl and nobody is going to perform any test on her."

Semenya won the 800m in 1 minute 55.45 seconds, the world’s best this year. - Sapa

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

If there's nothing to hide - why be afraid to be tested - sounds much like Mr Zuma doesnt it.
Seems its only ok for certain people to be racist.