Man jailed for racing as woman
HARARE - A male Zimbabwean athlete who won several awards in women’s competitions in southern Africa was on Thursday sentenced to four years in jail for offensive behaviour, the prosecutor said.
HARARE - A male Zimbabwean athlete who won several awards in women’s competitions in southern Africa was on Thursday sentenced to four years in jail for offensive behaviour, the prosecutor said.
Samukeliso Sithole, 18, was arrested in February.
“He has been convicted of six counts of impairing the dignity of female athletes who undressed in his presence after he made them believe he was a woman,†prosecutor Tapfumanei Nkonde told AFP.
Nkonde said Sithole wore stuffed bras.
Sithole, who insisted that he was a woman even after a doctor confirmed his sex, apologised to the magistrate at the trial in the Zimbabwean town of Kwe Kwe.
Sithole claimed at the beginning of his trial that he was born female and developed male sex organs after a traditional healer cast a spell on him when he did not pay for treatment.
Sithole competed in hurdles, javelin, shot put and triple jumping and bought two houses with money won in sports.
Samukeliso Sithole, 18, was arrested in February.
“He has been convicted of six counts of impairing the dignity of female athletes who undressed in his presence after he made them believe he was a woman,†prosecutor Tapfumanei Nkonde told AFP.
Nkonde said Sithole wore stuffed bras.
Sithole, who insisted that he was a woman even after a doctor confirmed his sex, apologised to the magistrate at the trial in the Zimbabwean town of Kwe Kwe.
Sithole claimed at the beginning of his trial that he was born female and developed male sex organs after a traditional healer cast a spell on him when he did not pay for treatment.
Sithole competed in hurdles, javelin, shot put and triple jumping and bought two houses with money won in sports.