The Shanthi Episode...
Agreed that the Shanthi Episode is a sensitive one, and we need not cause more embarrassment to somebody who is already greatly embarrassed due to her (his?) private details becoming public.
However, what amazes me is something else:
The "Gender Test" team consisting of a Gynecologist (to examine the physical features), an Endocrinologist (to examine the hormonal features), a Chromosomal Expert (to see whether she / he is XX or XY or XXY-Klinefelter Syndrome), and a Psychologist (for counselling), have all vehemently pronounced that she (he?) does not have the characteristics of a woman.
It appeared so obvious from the beginning, that it was actually some of Shanthi's lady athlete colleagues, who went and complained about this to the organizers, because of which the gender test ensued.
Such being the case, didn't the lady (man?) know, that she (he?) is doing something fundamentally dishonest? Even if she (he?) were so naive that she did not know the difference between a man and a woman, how come her coaches, doctors, physicians etc., from T.N. have all "managed not to know" the facts. Doesn't it look abnormal?
Shanthi should have been left in silence. But Honourable Chief Minister of T.N. seems to have taken it to the other extreme by giving her a cash-award, something that was intended to make her a "role-model" or something. I saw a doctor from that camp justifying the whole episode by saying, "look, she is so poor!".
What the heck? A poor lady does not know that she is (or is not) a lady?