Lecture 4: Ethics of Sex Testing

Question 1

How are women marked?

Answer 1

In all the ways they are different.

Question 2

What bodies are marked as insuffiecently human?

Answer 2

Black/brown women. This happens by throwing gender into doubt.

Question 3

What is the term for the excessive production of androgens (testosterone)?

Answer 3

Hyperandrogenism

Question 4

In 2011/2012, what eligibility rules for females with hyperandrogenism was introduced by the IAAF and IOC?

Answer 4

Eligible provided she has androgen levels below male range.

Question 5

What is the blood testosterone level of female athletes required to be eligible as stated by IAAF?

Answer 5

5nmol/L. For a continuous 6 months and while competing.

Question 6

What was CAS’s response to the IAAF on May 1, 2019?

Answer 6

“Regulations were necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF legitimate aim of preserving the integrity of female athletes in the restricted events.”

Question 7

What did semenya claim the rules to lower testosterone levels were in 2018?

Answer 7

Unfair, discriminatory and potentially harmful.

Question 8

What is DSD?

Answer 8

Differences of sex development.

Question 9

True or false: there was no concrete evidence that the hormone medication wouldn’t cause harmful side effects.

Answer 9

True.

Question 10

Why did the IAAF request a gender verification test from semenya?

Answer 10

Her deep voice, muscular build and rapid movements in time.

Question 11

What did the IOC introduce in 1968? When was it terminated?

Answer 11

Mandatory sex testing for woman in sport. Terminated 30 years later.

Question 12

What is the discrimination of high testosterone levels doing?

Answer 12

Creates doubts about sense of self, and erodes their rights to human dignity, privacy, health, freedom to make health related choices, employment and livelihood.

Question 13

What are the risks to women because of this discrimination?

Answer 13

Violence, ridicule, infusion into personal life, and other social hard,

Question 14

Differences between men and women who excel?

Answer 14

Men are applauded and women are questioned and doubted

Question 15

True or false: hormone medications transgresses the right to bodily, integrity

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Why is lowering endogenous testosterone levels unethical?

Answer 16

Valid scientific evidence is absent, benefits and harms cannot be conclusively ascertained

Question 17

In the decades of the IAAFs scrutiny of female athletes, what has it done?

Answer 17

Disrespected human rights and medical ethics and allowed prejudice, discrimination and injustice to infringe on their dignity and relentlessly obstruct their international sporting careers.