Ethics in sport

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Diversity in sport

Photo by Francis Nel (Getty Images)

What makes Semenya different, however, is not just her superior skill and strategy, but that she belongs to the tiny minority of humankind that displays intersex characteristics. She has lived her life as a woman, but her chromosomes are believed to be XY — or to be precise, what is now called “46, XY DSD.” It’s a rare variation in humans, previously called “male hermaphroditism” or “pseudohermaphroditism.” She isn’t doping; she has played and is playing by the rules; she has been the subject of some invasive and ugly attention which she doesn’t deserve; but the upshot is that her body produces more testosterone or responds in ways different than women with XX chromosomes.

Sullivan, A. (2019). Who Should Be Allowed to Compete in Women’s Sports? The New York Times: Intelligencer.

In 2009, at the age of 18, Caster Semenya won the 800m semi-finals at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. Her competitors had the following to say:

  • “These kind of people should not run with us,” said Elisa Cusma of Italy, who came sixth. “For me, she is not a woman. She is a man.”
  • Mariya Savinova of Russia, who finished fifth, was even more dismissive. “Just look at her,” she said.

Semenya identifies as a woman, but has testosterone levels higher than the typical female. Her success has brought controversy in elite sport, with many arguing that her biological traits give her an unfair advantage in women’s competition. But Semenya is fighting that. Sport eligibility, she and others say, should not be based on hormone levels or other differences of sex development. If successful, Semenya’s effort could open the door for all who identify as women to compete in track events without having to first medically lower their testosterone levels below a proposed limit.

Moses, E. (2019). Caster Semenya. Time 100.

In April 2019, South African track and field athlete lost the landmark case against the International Association of Athletics Federations and in future, will need to take chemical suppressants in order to reduce her natural testosterone levels if she wishes to compete again. The decision was made in order to ensure “fair” competition, which means that Semenya will not be allowed to compete in track events as a woman (Liew, 2019). However, there seem to be no concerns about American swimmer Michael Phelps, who also enjoys a competative advantage owing to genetic differences that give him a greater “wingspan” and significantly larger feet (Wood, 2019).

No one has ever suggested that we require male athletes with higher-than-normal androgens to reduce their testosterone to within the ‘normal range’ in men.

Wood, R. (2019). Caster Semenya has a competitive advantage. That’s OK. The Los Angeles Times.

Vox’s Today Explained podcast discusses the details of the IAAF ruling.

Here’s the full transcript of the episode.

“I know that the IAAF’s regulations have always targeted me specifically,” she added. “For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger. The decision of the Cas will not hold me back. I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”

Caster Semenya, in Ingle, S. (2019). Semenya loses landmark legal case against IAAF over testosterone levels. The Guardian.

Further reading