Time to End Gender Testing in Sports?
  • 3 years ago
The Tokyo Olympics begin this week, but the longstanding issue of gender testing in sport has raised it's head following the exclusion of two young Namibian runners from the women's 400m. The reason? Their natural testosterone levels are too high- disqualifying them from entering the race. This leads to questions about why women are still being tested for testosterone and is it and appropriate demarcation? We speak to Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right To Health about the medical and ethical issues that arise from this. Payoshni Mitra, long time athletes' rights advocate who has represented Caster Semenya explains why this is not just about sport and medals, but get's right to the core of an athlete's identity.
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