‘FACT CHECK: it absolutely does. It actually makes you not one at all.’
Olympic runner Caster Semenya’s recent interview with the BBC caused a stir on social media, as he confidently asserted that his testicles don’t negate his womanhood.
Discussing his biology after being born with 5α-Reductase 2 deficiency, which only affects males, the two-time gold olympic medalist defended himself competing in women’s events, despite having “internal testicles” that produce testosterone.
Caster Semenya says she is “not going to be ashamed” of being “different”, and will “fight for what is right” in athletics.
Semenya was born with differences of sexual development, meaning she has an elevated level of testosterone.#BBCAthletics pic.twitter.com/A66bGAYtD4
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 7, 2023
“For me I believe if you are a woman, you are a woman,” Semenya told the BBC. “I have realized I want to live my life and fight for what I think and I believe in myself. I don’t care about the medical terms or what they tell me. Being born without a uterus or internal testicles. Those don’t make me less of a woman. I am a woman and have a vagina just like any other woman.”
Semenya made similar comments last week on CBS Mornings:
The olympian’s comments were strongly criticized on social media, including by female athletes tired of men having unfair advantages in women’s sports.
“Semenya is not a woman with high testosterone levels. He is a male with normal testosterone levels,” wrote swimmer Riley Gaines.
“My testicles don’t make me less of a woman” – Caster Semenya
Of course, this outlandish statement went totally unchallenged this morning🤡
Semenya is not a woman with high testosterone levels. He is a male with normal testosterone levels. pic.twitter.com/LKhkP7SnlN
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) November 7, 2023
pic.twitter.com/dZA1gcBGLQ
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) November 7, 2023
Others, including outraged women, reacted with similar condemnation, with some calling for him to give back his awards.
Olympian Caster Semenya on BBC: “My testicles don’t make me less of a woman”
FACT CHECK: it absolutely does. It actually makes you not one at all.
pic.twitter.com/cxrjNAMKBX
— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) November 7, 2023
Taking full advantage of transgender ideology’s capture of our institutions, he knows perfectly well he’s a bloke.
— Billy Bragg (@Serena_Partrick) November 7, 2023
We were duped into thinking Caster was a woman being treated unfairly.
The only women being treated unfairly were the ones having to compete against a male.
If Caster was raised as a girl, I can understand wanting to hold onto that.
But males shouldn’t be in female sports. https://t.co/F2DG1TF8t6
— Ivy Rose ♀️ (@itsivybtch) November 7, 2023
Caster Semenya on BBC women’s hour saying if testosterone causes a competitive advantage then “why are my times not like the men?”
Because you’re a mediocre male athlete my dude. Your inability to break male records does not make you any less male. If that was the case 99% of…
— Shay 🌈🌸✨ (@ShayWoulahan) November 7, 2023
I used to feel sorry for Caster Semenya. But it’s clear that she knew she was male from quite an early age. Then telling an athlete she beat to Olympic gold that she would do better if she ‘bit her tongue and trained harder’ … what a complete shit. And oh, so very male. https://t.co/Y80TBdg4jB
— mskatestafford (@mskatestafford) November 7, 2023
As a woman who has went through a grueling pregnancy which ended in death, I find it so insulting that men think they are women. Like seriously fuck off, Caster Semenya, you territorial male!!! You have no clue what being a woman is. Loser! https://t.co/Huv5v4R2fz
— 🎨Paintress April🌸SugarMagnolia Sunshine Daydream (@PaintressApril) November 7, 2023
When news organizations write that Caster has high T while also leaving out they are biologically male they lose credibility. Not just about gender stuff but everything. It’s baffling they are happy to throw away their reputation over something so small. https://t.co/SJa45Nxi9a
— Lulu Solomon (@lulusolomo86641) November 7, 2023
Hi @BBCWomansHour & @Emmabarnett, in your interview this morning, can you please state the pertinent FACTS about Semenya:
XY chromosomes, testes, male levels of testosterone and sensitivity to that testosterone. ie male physiology NOT “woman with high testosterone”. And can … https://t.co/9nJYwZkYuk
— Mara Yamauchi (@mara_yamauchi) November 7, 2023
I will say it again so we can drill this in: Caster Semenya does not have high testosterone due to his development disorder, 5-ARD.
Rather, he has high testosterone because of his sex, which is male. He has testes that produce male-typical levels of T, and that T androgenizes…
— Zachary Elliott (@zaelefty) November 7, 2023
Caster has a disorder of sexual development called 5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency, which ONLY affects males. There is nothing female about him.
— Supernova (@One_Supernova) November 7, 2023
Caster has internal gonads which produce huge levels of testosterone – male levels of testosterone. Elite female athletes are at a huge disadvantage racing against Caster. It’s an absolute scandal. This should be the headline. https://t.co/fMEpjat069
— Toby (@Toby_1979) November 7, 2023
Caster is a man who has cheated throughout his entire career. Woman isn’t a feeling, a hormone level, a costume or a career plan for mediocre males. He is a male with a DSD, but a male nonetheless.
— 💜💚WomenAreSayingNO! (@mjeslfc) November 7, 2023
This point is often missed. Caster Semenya has had the benefit of full male pubertal development, driven by normal (for a male) levels of testosterone, but is not competitive with elite men. Because Semenya is not actually an elite athlete for a male. Most males aren’t https://t.co/eyTdQPbw2c
— Helen Joyce (@HJoyceGender) November 7, 2023
Some pointed to the fact Semenya has fathered two children as evidence he’s a man pretending to be a woman.
The BBC gaslighting women once again. Caster Semenya is a man with a DSD. He went through male puberty. He used those pubertal advantages to destroy women’s athletics. He’s a disgusting cheat.
He’s a father. And you call him “she”?
Shame on you. https://t.co/h91sTYS1ZZ
— Hannah Murdoch 🏴 (@MurdochHannah) November 7, 2023
I had so much sympathy for Caster. A ‘woman’ born in w intersex condition which gave elevated levels of testosterone.
But it was all a lie. Caster is a man. He has even fathered children. At the Rio Olympics THREE female runners lost to him and other men in 🥇 🥈 and 🥉 Enough. https://t.co/CtyzwtD2Oo
— Jill Foster (@JournalistJill) November 7, 2023
Despite being classified as female at birth, Semenya reportedly has “46 XY” rather than the XX chromosomes women have, however he was raised as a female and presents himself as a “masculine woman.”
The Swedish supreme court in 2020 refused to allow Semenya to compete against women without taking hormone-suppressing drugs, however the athlete refused.
Semenya is on a media tour on the heels of his new memoir, “The Race to Be Myself.”
