The issue surrounding Caster Semenya’s gender has been taken to another level by the Young Communist League of South Africa, stating she has become a victim of racism.

While I sympathize with Semenya, and the trauma that has been incurred by suggesting she is not female, the issue is not one of racism. My sister stated she had heard she was a hermaphrodite, a carrier of both sexual reproductive organs, making her sexuality difficult to determine.

Recently, her mother has shown her birth certificate to indicate she is female, but if she is a hermaphrodite, the gender is determined at birth by the parents - you get to choose, and then raise your child in that gender. If she holds both gender genes, then whichever is in the majority should determine her gender.

Of course, she may actually be female and all this is not necessary. She must feel an outcast in society, and all because she wanted to compete for her country in a sport she clearly loves. She should be commended for that, just like all athletes, regardless of gender. Her ability to perform at such a level, whether she is a man or a woman, shows her ability as a sportsperson. I know I will never, ever be able to perform at such a level.

What is now disappointing is the reaction to her gender as racist. People need to realise what racism is. She is not being targeted because she is South African, because she is not white or because she is black. The matter is not one of race, but of gender. People are far too quick to use colour as a means of argument, or as a means of defense. In a country where racism is still rife, in a variety of ways and in a variety of people, to suggest such an issue is one of racism is like lighting a bonfire - it could blow up into a huge international issue.

The reality is, her performance has greatly increased recently, and her GENDER is being questioned. While I appreciate this must be traumatic for her, we must not over-react. The issue is partly resolved as her birth certificate identifies her sex. Leave her be, let her compete for her country and if there is doubt, realise it is not a race issue, but to determine her suitability competing against other females.

Learn not to judge, but to love and celebrate someone’s victories and successes... don’t bring someone down when they succeed.