Is It Fair To Allow An Athletic With High Natural Testosterone Levels To Compete, Even Though Athletics Are Banned From Taking Androgenic Steroids Supplements That Increase Testosterone Levels?

[willbewhatiwill]

Caster Semenya, 26, is a middle-distance runner and 2016 Olympic gold medallist. Caster Semenya testosterone levels is three times higher than is expected in women due to hyperandrogenism (increase testosterone). Due to a chromosomal abnormality, Caster has no womb or ovaries, but internal testes instead. IAAF will reconsider Caster Semenya eligibility to compete as a female at the end of the year.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2568578/who-is-caster-semenya-gender-row-runner-and-olympic-gold-medalist-heres-what-we-know/ reported, “After winning gold in the 2009 World Championships by beating her best by four seconds, Semenya was subjected to gender testing. She was banned from international competitions for almost a year before being cleared by the International Association of Athletics Federations. The IAAF believe that all other hyperandrogenic athletes should not compete unless they try to curb their naturally high testosterone levels. But it has faced legal challenges from female athletes who claim their high testosterone levels are “entirely natural” and that the IAAF rule was “discriminatory against women”.

[willbewhatiwill]

Berniecuddles2: "What about her?"

Serena Williams being muscular and looking like a man?

[fiction-factory]

I have no doubts about Serena and I am not aware there has been the same sort of gender debate, controversy and testing/challenges as there has been with some of these athletes. There isa Ugandan running now that I will look up as surely there will have been some investigation here too in the past

[Berniecuddles2]

Yes she's muscular but also looks like a woman because she is one

[willbewhatiwill]

Berniecuddles2: "Yes she's muscular but also looks like a woman because she is one"

Serena Williams is boring to watch her play and a real turn-off. I am celebrating that she is not playing at the moment. Long may it last.

[Berniecuddles2]

I can't stand tennis so I don't watch her

[ToraToraTora]

is he/she XX or XY? that's the simplest way to detertmine.

[ToraToraTora]

no one seems to know the actual configuration. Looks like a geezer to me though so I can see why there are issues competing against women.

[albaqwerty]

as far as I'm aware, Serena is pregnant.

Whilst we are on the topic of being rude about how a human being looks, did anyone see the Chinese lady shot-putter?

[willbewhatiwill]

ToraToraTora: "is he/she XX or XY? that's the simplest way to detertmine"

Female tended to be weaker than men because their testosterone levels are usually not as high as men's.

Some sections of chromosomes (i.e. genes) can translocate on another chromosome, therefore the mere presence of XY chromosome does not necessarily make a person male or female. However testosterone levels is a good indication of being male or female.

[ToraToraTora]

it was XX or XY when I went to school. Odd that no one has determined the basics first.

[willbewhatiwill]

ToraToraTora,

It has been reported that Caster Semenya has chromosomal abnormalities, but there appear to be reports of her XX or XY or XXY or XYY status. This does not been it has not been determined in the initial screening - it just have not been reported as such.

[fiction-factory]

>This does not been it has not been determined in the initial screening - it just have not been reported as such

I'm not sure that's what you meant to type, will. Are you saying it may have been determined but hasn't been reported

[willbewhatiwill]

fiction-factory,

I meant to say: It has been reported that Caster Semenya has chromosomal abnormalities, but there NOT appear to be reports of her XX or XY or XXY or XYY status. This does not been it has not been determined in the initial screening - it just have not been reported as such.

Yes I meant to say, it may have been determined but hasn't been reported. Cheers!

[Sqad]

She is a woman XX but has testis (male).
Rare very rare condition,which may or may not be due to translocation
Should she be classed as a man or a woman is irrelevant from my point of view as these people should not be allowed in international athletics.
I take your point re. using sex hormones to define the sex of a competitor, however testosterone levels vary and one study suggested that in about 2-4% of male athletes, their testosterone levels were in the Female range. Should these "men" be allowed to compete as women?
Difficult isn't it?
At the moment....genotesting, hormone assays and physical examination are combined to define eligibility. But i stand by my post above......straight XXs and straight XYs would be the defining requirements, outside of this....no international involvement.
I am no expert in this field.