Intersex and Trans Athletes (Background)

Vocabulary

• intersex
• disorders of sexual development
• differences of sexual development

History of sex-testing (Padawer and other sources)

• 20th century: as women enter sport, there's a fear of male impostors
• 1940s: female competitors had to have gender certificates
• 1966: sex verification used "nude parades" in front of physicians and genital exams
• 1967: changed to chromosomal testing. XX chromosomes required to compete in women's sports. 
• 1985: Martinez-Patino case. XY, PAIS, female-presenting. Spanish hurdler, expelled, lost medals. Later reinstated. 
• IAAF witched to "'manual/visual" check for individuals whose femininity was questioned
• 1990s: if athlete is challenged, then chromosome and hormone testing, plus pelvic exam and psych evaluation

Recent history: Caster Semenya

Caster Semenya

• 2009: Caster Semenya, South Africa, wins world championship in 800 meters
  • legally female, female gender identity
  • didn't know she was intersex
  • she was challenged, gender-tested, suspended pending results
  • 2010: she is reinstated 
• 2011: International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decides that if challenged, female athletes must be legally female and testosterone level must be below 10 nmol/L 

Fertilitypedia

• exception: athlete is insensitive to testosterone 
• can reduce with drugs or surgical removal of internal testes
• 2012: Semenya won Olympic gold medal in women's 800 meters

Watch first 13 minutes:

Recent History: Dutee Chand

• 2014: Indian runner Dutee Chand dropped from several competitions due to "hyperandrogenism" (high testosterone in a female). 

• legally female, female gender identity
• didn't know she was intersex
• discovered after she was challenged at a competition
• 2015: Chand appeals to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
• CAS suspends testosterone testing, giving IAAF time to defend.
• 2016: Caster Semenya wins Olympic gold medal in 800 meters
• 2018: IAAF defends and upholds testosterone testing for intersex and trans athletes
• female athletes must have testosterone under 5 nmol/L (unless athlete is insensitive to testosterone)
• only for middle distance (400 meters to a mile) running events, 
• must sustain lower level for 6 months prior to competition (chemically or surgically)
• affects international competition only
• alternatively these athletes can compete in men's events
• "in no way intended as any kind of judgment on, or questioning of, the sex or the gender identity of any athlete" (a question of eligibility, not gender)
• 2019: After another challenge, IAAF upholds 2018 policy. 
• clarifications here
• they say: applies to those intersex women who are both XY and legally women (e.g. Caster Semenya)
• applies only to high level international competition
• also applies to trans women, who must be legally female
• 2019: decision challenged and suspended pending review by Swiss Supreme Court

Watch first 14 minutes:

at July 14, 2019 No comments: 

Trans athletes

Chris Mosier, triathlete

Fallon Fox, mixed martial arts

Rachel (Veronica) McKinnon,
masters cycling gold medalist
and philosophy professor

The debate about intersex athletes: positions

1. There should be testosterone limits for intersex female athletes (Monday: Doriane Coleman, she argues the lower limit is best)
2. They should be unconditionally eligible
3. They should be unconditionally ineligible

The debate about trans athletes: positions

1. There should be testosterone limits for trans women athletes 
2. They should be unconditionally eligible (Wednesday: Rachel McKinnon)
3. They should be unconditionally ineligible

To what extent are the ethical issues in these two debates distinct?