How hard is it to know if an elite athlete is a woman? (Read 2185 times)

It's not that simple. It's still an issue. Of course.

As an aside....

 

You probably know that gender tests were introduced into athletics in 1966 following suspicion that Soviet athletes competing as females were male. Mandatory sex tests were introduced at Olympic Games but dropped after 1992.

 

But do you know the only female competitor to be excused the examination at the 1972 Games in Munich?

 

No googling - too easy for that.

Disappointed.

It was Princess Anne.

Some may argue, with reason, that she should have been tested.

Yep.

One online article alleging a paper claiming a leak -- is that really reasonably reliable?

I saw Jeff is already to accept congratulations on being right about her being a hermaphrodite, but maybe we should wait a bit for some confirmation -- I mean, it could be someone lying, and a newspaper jumping on it without verifying it, because it would make such a titillating headline.

Let's go back to the images of schoolgirls that mikey wanted to bring in for a little while; that sounded entertaining.

 

One online article alleging a paper claiming a leak -- is that really reasonably reliable?

 

I saw Jeff is already to accept congratulations on being right about her being a hermaphrodite, but maybe we should wait a bit for some confirmation -- I mean, it could be someone lying, and a newspaper jumping on it without verifying it, because it would make such a titillating headline.

 

Let's go back to the images of schoolgirls that mikey wanted to bring in for a little while; that sounded entertaining.

Actually, if this report is true, she is not a hermaphrodite but a pseudohermaphrodite (so I was right!!).  A hermaphrodite would have both sets of sex organs.  In this case, she developed mostly male sex organs but the testes remained internal.

This is really a tragedy of biology.  Typically in cases like this, from every outward appearance the individually is entirely female and the truth only becomes apparent when they don't menstrate and don't develop secondary female sex characteristics.  

While tragic, I don't see how she can be allowed to compete as a female athlete.  That's totally unfair to all women without hidden testes pumping testosterone into their system to boost their performance.

 

Actually, if this report is true, she is not a hermaphrodite but a pseudohermaphrodite (so I was right!!).  A hermaphrodite would have both sets of sex organs.  In this case, she developed mostly male sex organs but the testes remained internal.

 

This is really a tragedy of biology.  Typically in cases like this, from every outward appearance the individually is entirely female and the truth only becomes apparent when they don't menstrate and don't develop secondary female sex characteristics.  

 

While tragic, I don't see how she can be allowed to compete as a female athlete.  That's totally unfair to all women without hidden testes pumping testosterone into their system to boost their performance.

There are any number of women who have testes and circulating testosterone who have been cleared to compete.  the question is whether or not they are sensitive to the testosterone.  If this is the condition Caster  has, she probably needs to have the testes removed for medical reasons, and she would definitely be able to compete in that case.  The science of sports guys have a decent post (really, series of posts) about this issue: http://www.sportsscientists.com/ with the latest covering the latest leak. 

If this is all true, what a terrible way for an 18 year old to receive such major medical news.   Though I wouldn't call this a 'tragedy' but rather a condition.   It's a difference, but not a tragic one. 

If you were to suddenly find out that you had testes, it would only be a "condition" to you?  How about if the whole world knew about it?  THAT is a tragedy...her whole life is undoubtedly turned around.

 

If they are removed that is a whole other story....however she's not going to be nearly as fast once the hormones are gone.  It's pretty apparent from her build and physical features that she is responding pretty well to testosterone, at least as sure as it can be over the internet.  Take a look at how far such hormones can take normal women by looking at pictures of Marion Jones both during her doping phase and again before and after.  Even her voice changed when she came off the dope, and her times were never the same.

I think that the public attention is very difficult, and these are terrible circumstances for a young woman and her family to learn of this medical condition.  The fact that gender isn't binary isn't necessarily tragic, however, so the existance of the condition isn't 'tragic.'  It is, indeed, just a condition.