"Unfair Genetic Advantage"

[BalaRoja]

So if she wore makeup, maybe sprinted in a skort this whole thing would not happen?

I seriously think this is a factor in the entire reaction to Semenya.

Because she isn't, let's say as 'feminine' (whatever that means) as her competitors, she does become an easier target for such allegations. I feel the 'gender' police - as in what is expected of a woman - is certainly out and making itself known in this case.

However there may be a definite reason why she isn't naturally as 'feminine' (again, a vague term but somewhat useful for discussion).

FWIW, after the reports came out about her being intersexed - I suspect she has partial, not complete AIS. Meaning that her system does somewhat respond to the increased testosterone that her testes produce and her body shows that relationship.

People with complete AIS tend to look different than those with partial AIS.

In fact there are various grades which cover the range of AIS, from complete AIS, to 6 grades of partial AIS (PAIS).

In complete AIS you'd have the following:

# Female body shape
# Large breasts with juvenile nipples
# Absent/scanty axillary and pubic hair
# No temporal hair recession (balding)
# Female external genitalia with small labia
# Blind-ending vagina
# Absent or rudimentary internal genitalia
# Gonads consistent histologically with cryptorchid testes
# Hyperplasia of interstitial cells: adenoma

Here's a bit more detail on what some of the various levels of AIS tend to correlate with:

1. Complete AIS (CAIS): completely female body except no uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries; testes in the abdomen; minimal androgenic (pubic or axillary) hair at puberty.[5]

2. Partial or incomplete AIS (PAIS): male or female body, with slightly virilized genitalia or micropenis; testes in the abdomen; sparse to normal androgenic hair.[5]
Man with micropenis, hypogonadism and gynecomastia

3. Reifenstein syndrome: obviously ambiguous genitalia; small testes may be in abdomen or scrotum; sparse to normal androgenic hair; gynecomastia at puberty.[6]

4. Infertile male syndrome: normal male genitalia internally and externally; normal male body or possible female androgyny, normal virilization and androgenic hair; reduced sperm production; reduced fertility or infertility.[6]

5. Undervirilized fertile male syndrome: male internal and external genitalia with micropenis; testes in scrotum; normal androgenic hair; sperm count and fertility normal or reduced.[6]

6. X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy: normal or nearly normal male body and fertility; exaggerated adolescent gynecomastia; adult onset degenerative muscle disease.[7]

For those of you who are curious about someone with complete AIS, perhaps you've heard of Eden Atwood? A well known american jazz singer www.edenatwood.com

Interestingly enough, one of the usual hallmarks of complete AIS is no underarm/pubic hair.

Obviously we've seen that Semenya does have underarm hair - which in and of itself is nothing to comment on - but that, along with her bone structure and build, suggests is that she doesn't have complete AIS.

If she doesn't have complete AIS then she's almost certainly got partial AIS - meaning her body can and does use some of the extra testosterone. That could well mean she does have an advantage.

Why?

Because the IAAF has determined that testosterone is the key factor in determining an athlete's participation status as male or female.

Ultimately, much as many of you have said, I feel worst for Semenya. I can't help but think of a variety of ulterior motives that different people, be it the press, her handlers (not family, but athletic coaches/federation), etc all have in this. Semenya's a teen and this is terrible scrutiny to be put under and very harsh.