NEW DELHI, Dec 17: On December 9, Santhi Soudarajan won a silver for India in the women’s 800m run at the Doha Asian Games. On Sunday, it was revealed that Santhi is not a woman. The 25-year-old runner failed a gender test, which was conducted in Doha during the Games after the race was over. The test report, which was sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) by the organisers on Sunday, says that "she does not possess the sexual characteristics of a women".
The startling revelation means India will lose the medal. The official word is awaited.
The bizarre incident is also shocking since the Athletic Federation of India (AFI), which selected ‘her’ for Doha, was, in all probability, aware of the issue as Santhi was denied a job by the railways after failing a similar test some time ago. Somehow, Santhi managed to find a berth in the Indian contingent for several international events as also for Doha. "In Doha everything went off well. But I believe someone leaked the information to the organisers, who then got the athlete tested," said a sports official, who was part of the contingent to Doha.
It was not immediately clear whether Santhi, whose poor parents work as labourers near Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, had undergone a sex change procedure in the past. In Doha, Santhi was tested by a medical commission set up by the organisers.
AFI sources, meanwhile, said they had no clue about the tests and the findings. IOA officials also claimed ignorance. "We have not got any communication from anyone till now," said AFI secretary Lalit Bhanot.
A senior IOA official said, "If the organisers have sent anything to us on the issue, we would come to know about it tomorrow, since today is Sunday."