Female Olympic athletes may soon be required to prove gender
Crystal Huskey
WVoN co-editor
Are you a woman competing in the Olympics?
If the answer is yes, simply declaring your gender is no longer enough. You have to prove, scientifically, that you are physically, chemically and biologically a woman, with the correct ratio of estrogen/testosterone. Too much testosterone? Well, that would give you an unfair advantage.
At least, according to a new policy proposed by the International Olympic Committee.
Women with an unnaturally high level of testosterone, termed hyperandrogenism, could be banned from competing in the Olympics. The Star asserts that this amounts to a ‘witch-hunt’ among female athletes. A new study shows that testosterone is far from the strongest indicator of athletic ability.
“(The test) is based on a lot of speculation and folklore about hormones, instead of precise science,” said co-author Rebecca Jordan-Young, a Barnard College gender studies professor, as reported by The Star.
“Women who are totally insensitive to testosterone are overrepresented in elite sports. That’s a great clue they’re barking up the wrong tree.”
The proposed policy comes after South African runner Caster Semenya won a gold medal in the 2009 world championships. There was widespread speculation that she was not female, due to her deep voice and masculine physique. She was banned for 11 months as the investigation into her gender was conducted.
In the end, she was allowed to keep her medal and continue competing.
If the testosterone levels are too high, some women are being required to undergo surgery or hormonal therapy in order to compete.
Their *sex*. Not their gender. These words are not synonyms.
Great point, was just thinking that.