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Olympics and Sex Testing and Verification

This article highlights the controversies surrounding sex testing in Olympic sports, focusing on the cases of Dutee Chand and Caster Semenya. It explores the discriminatory aspects of sex testing and questions the fairness of regulations.

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Olympics and Sex Testing and Verification

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  1. Olympics and Sex Testingand Verification Dutee Chand and Caster Semanya Fromhttp://www.espn.com/athletics/story/_/id/23336583/dutee-chand-found-life-run-fear-now

  2. Update to Sex Testing in Olympic Sport • A 2016 article in The Star reported that in 2011-12, 4 female Eastern European elite athletes were tested and found to have high natural testosterone levels and some “atypical” features • Testing showed they were genetically male (XY) but anatomically female. They were diagnosed with 5-alpha reductase deficiency • In order to compete “fairly”, doctors recommended surgeries to “feminize” their vaginas and estrogen replacement therapy • In 2013-14, all 4 women had the procedures done in Nice, France in order to be able to compete

  3. Hyperandrogenism • A study of 693 athletes found that “16.5% of men had low testosterone levels, whereas 13.7% of women had high levels with complete overlap between the sexes” (Healy et al 2014) • Transgender athletes who identify as female can compete if have low testosterone levels 1 year prior • No restrictions on male transgendered individuals (2015)

  4. Caster Semenya • Blanket sex testing was banned by the IOC in 1999, but still done in “suspicious” cases • In 2009, after complaints from several white athletes, South African runner Caster Semenya was forced to undergo testing and public humiliation until finally cleared in 2010 • After 2010, if IOC found “female hyperandrogenism” which puts testosterone in male range, athlete can be barred from sport unless have drugs and surgery

  5. Dutee Chand • Indian track and field athlete Dutee Chand found hyperandrogenic and was also barred • In 2015 court ruled evidence for higher testosterone levels giving an advantage is weak or inconclusive • Chand has taken her case to court: discrimination toward intersexed and transgendered women • Currently no sex testing to be done at PyeongChang Olympics • IOC rule suspended until Chand’s court ruling sometime in 2018.

  6. Results • In April 2018, Chand finally cleared and found to have naturally occurring high testosterone but now, Semenya cannot compete unless reduces levels. • IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), world governing body for sports reduced allowable limit for testosterone in the blood from 10 to 5 nanomoles/litre for women

  7. Is Sex Testing Discriminatory? • IOC says wants to “level the playing field for women” but what about for men? • What about males who have higher levels of testosterone, or who are taller (Usain Bolt) or double jointed (Michael Phelps)? • The article in the Star raises the question, “why is natural genetic variation policed in female athletes, but celebrated in men, like freakishly tall basketball players?” • What is fair?

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