Sex verification or ‘gender testing’ is a highly controversial practice in the world of sports. As The New York Times points out, it includes a series of tests that are conducted to identify athletes whose chromosomes, hormones, genitalia, reproductive organs, or secondary sex characteristics don’t develop or align in a “typical” way. Sex testing practices in sports, more specifically, women’s sports have now existed for quite a few decades. The In- ternational Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), now known as World Athletics, adopted a thorough, laboratory-based chromosome assessment in 1967, followed by comprehensive sex testing by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1968. Although both World Athletics and the IOC ended mandatory sex verification in 1992 and 1999 respectively, women athletes are still subjected to medical evaluations based on what sports officials deem as “suspicious.” This has especially led to scrutiny on non-white athletes, who might not fit the discriminatory ‘eurocentric’ standards of what a woman looks like. In recent years, sex verification tests are conducted via hormone testing. In this method, the testosterone level of a female athlete is examined. If the test results ascertain that the level of testosterone is higher than the prescribed level, the athletes have to undergo medical treatment to regulate their testosterone levels or they are banned from competing in certain events. Along with the fact that it is highly unethical to administer drugs to someone who does not need them, this practice is harmful to the physical health of athletes. Moreover, apart from the fact that there is not enough scientific basis for drawing a significant connection between high levels of testosterone and athletic performance, the practice of hormone testing is highly invasive. It violates fundamental rights to privacy and dignity. Sex-testing and hyperandrogenism policies promote a culture of surveillance in the field of athletics. Recently, just before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Indian athlete Seema Punia questioned her fellow discus athlete Kamalpreet Kaur’s biology. Athletes are subjected to unprecedented scrutiny, harassment, and intimidation because of the invasive practice of hormone testing. At the 2006 Asian Games, Indian athlete Santhi Soundarajan won the silver medal in the 800m category. However, she was dumped from the national contingent and her medal was rescinded upon failing a sex verification test. After the failed test, Soundarjan attempted to take her own life. “I was shattered by the failed test. The Athletics Federation of India did not support me, did not fight my cause. I was hoping they would. I was depressed. I felt like I had lost everything. It still hurts. I loved the sport so much. My dream broken, I attempted suicide,” Santhi told Reuters in 2009. Over the years athletics federations like World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India have been widely criticised by sports profes- sionals and the general public alike for their rigidity and inability to establish a criterion that fairly divides athletes into different categories based on sex. The criticism has resulted in the suspension of certain policies on hyperandrogenism and other humiliating sex testing practices. However, it still remains a major issue in the field of athletics. Athletes are subjected to unprecedented scrutiny, harassment, and intimidation because of the invasive practice of hormone testing.
10 Apr 2022
Yashvi Shah
