Caster Semenya : IAAF Ruling

[BruceVC]

Sup All

I am interested in peoples views on this matter for those that have been following it, I will try to summarize the issue because it sets a new precedent for all female athletes competing in a race less than 1 mile 

Firstly who is Caster Semenya

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caster_Semenya

Good  article to summarize the IAAF ruling against her

https://dnyuz.com/2019/05/01/court-bars-women-with-high-testosterone-from-some-track-races/

My interpretation and view  as a  synopsis based on my limited medical knowledge of the human body and the overall Caster case is below

Caster was born as an intersex person, the definition of this is someone who does not fit the normal definition of what defines male or female based on various sex characteristics like chromosomes or genitals 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex

Her intersex trait means she has elevated, natural testosterone compared to other women. this is not her fault as she was born like this. We measure natural testosterone  in the human body on nanomoles/liter. Women have between 0.12-1.79 nanomoles/liter and men after puberty have 7.7-29.4 nanomoles/liter

Caster has over 5 nanomoles/liter and this means elevated testosterone so the IAAF ruling wants her take medication to reduce her nanomoles/liter to below 5

The final consideration could be  " does testosterone make a difference in athlete performance" ? Most studies show that elevated testosterone on  any race less than 1 mile (1600m ) leads to additional muscle mass, strength and oxygen capacity. So in order to make a level playing field the ruling wants Caster to reduce her testosterone

Personally I think the ruling is unfair to Caster but fair to all other women who compete against her so it should be upheld and will be implemented going forward for all women who compete in most athletic sports as its based on science and reasonable output

What do you guys think?

 

 

 

[Gorth]

Oh, easy. Stop splitting athletes up in "men" and "women" and create categories for those above and below a testosterone threshold. They could even create a "super" league for those who don't mind pumping themselves full of performance enhancing chemicals, steroids, whatever.

(edit: It wouldn't be that different from wrestling, boxing etc. where you have weight categories to even the playfield between contestants)

 

On a less serious note, waiting for the first complaint about contestants trying to win races by using viagra (for getting those extra inches closer to the finishing line)!

[BruceVC]

10 hours ago, Gorth said:

Oh, easy. Stop splitting athletes up in "men" and "women" and create categories for those above and below a testosterone threshold. They could even create a "super" league for those who don't mind pumping themselves full of performance enhancing chemicals, steroids, whatever.

(edit: It wouldn't be that different from wrestling, boxing etc. where you have weight categories to even the playfield between contestants)

 

On a less serious note, waiting for the first complaint about contestants trying to win races by using viagra (for getting those extra inches closer to the finishing line)!

Yeah, I agree. Its a slippery slope if we allow unusually  high-testosterone athletes to compete because where do you draw the line as you mentioned. Why not just allow people to take steroids and go for it