If You Question This Lady's Ovaries, You're A Hatemonger

While it may be cruel to so publicly question Caster Semenya's gender, it's not a ridiculous question. But just keep in mind you're being racist. What?

That's the assertion made by Sello Rabothata, deputy sports editor at South Africa's Sowetan, in an op-ed in yesterday's . Honestly, we'd nominate this for Worst American Sports Writing, if it were American. He starts it off with a doozy:

This is just pure unadulterated jealousy and it's being done because she is black and African!

I'm not sure exclamation points in your lede make for a convincing argument, but whatever. Rabothata goes on to argue that this is a common accusation hurled at South African athletes, bringing up the case of a soccer player accused by her Ghanaian opponents of being a man. Not sure if you can make the case that that one was due to their jealously at her being "black and African."

She is best described as a tomboy. She likes, among other things, wrestling. She also has a deep voice. It seems she also sports a moustache. All these features make the allegation seem likely. But, who has a right to argue with her parents when they say their child is a girl? Shouldn't they be the ones to know?

So if I went to compete in women's track and field, I'd be allowed to as long as my parents will vouch for my womanhood? Sounds good. I'd still get smoked, but that's not the point. The point is, I agree we should wait for the testing before we attack her. Or defend her?

For us in South Africa, Semenya is our golden girl and no amount of jealousy or false allegations are going to convince us otherwise.

So because you like her and she's your nationality, you refuse to entertain questions about her? Got it.

Semenya, Our Queen Of The 800m [Guardian]