Tag Archive for 'ethics'

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Immediate Response to  IAAF approving the adoption of new rules and regulations governing the eligibility of females with hyperandrogenism to take part in women’s competition:

The Guardian “IAAF approves new rules on hyperandrogenism”
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Press Association

IOC Press Release – IOC addresses eligibility of female athletes with hyperandrogenism – Adopts the Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport (CAIS) Recommendations.

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today confirmed the need to set up clear rules to determine the eligibility of female athletes with hperandrogenism in female competitions, starting with the Olympic Games in London next year.

“Important to Note: This statement by the IOC is a public omission that “gender testing” of female athletes was never needed. Many athletes in the last several years so physically and publicly violated (human rights/discrimination) by gender testing which proves nothing, could have been so simply dealt with as simply as a blood test within the anti-doping model.”

IOC Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport (CAIS) Recommendations:
For Full Document Release: “Click Here”

Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport (CAIS) Recommendations:
The Guiding Principles for Inclusion in Sport “Click Here”

An incredible moment (6) years of hard work and amazing support from experts around the world and support of Canadian Sport leaders made it possible.  We will never see one more athlete in modern sport history receive such harm by failed policy as it pertains to ones individual diversity and or identity.

Published April 5th, 2011

The University of Western Ontario Medical Journal

Gender verification testing: Necessary for the integrity of international athletics, or inexcusable breach of personal privacy?

Colin Meyer Macaulay (Meds 2012), Moska Hamidi (Meds 2013),
and Karline Treurnicht-Naylor (Meds 2013)
Faculty reviewer: Dr. Cheril Clarson, Department of Medicine, UWO

Download Full PDF Review “Click Here”

Volume 79, Number 2 – Endocrinology
Published Spring 2010

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Published March 18th, 2011

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CBC’s The Passionate Eye – Too Fast to Be a Woman
Wednesday March 9 at 10 pm ET/PT & Saturday March 12 at 7 pm ET on CBC News Network

As Caster Semenya achieved her dream of winning the 800m World Championship in 2009, rumours of a failed gender test spread. A vicious and voyeuristic media storm erupted and Caster’s triumph was turned into public humiliation. With exclusive access, this film follows the shy teenager from a remote South African village as she struggles to come to terms with what has happened and fights to return to competition.

With the support of her family, and a top legal team, Caster takes the fight to the IAAF, the world’s leading body for the sport of athletics. As international lawyers and eminent scientists thrash out what it means to be a woman, the 19 year old at the centre of the storm wants only to run. A heart-rending and uplifting story of a young woman who overcame incredible odds to become the world’s best, only to find that her biggest challenge still lay ahead.

Produced and Directed by MAXX GINNANE, Rise Films Ltd., for the BBC.

For Full Online Review of Documentary – “Click Here”

As a personal note, the Canadian connection, and Canada’s commitment and engagement to stopping the horrible acts carried out by false developed policy against women leading to HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AND RAPE by the IOC/IAAF over several decades, touching on the extreme simple and vulnerability of the women, Caster, Santhi Soundarajan and other great women and athletes who lives have been devastated do to the “social ignorance” of the IOC/IAAF as it relates to gender.  The women, coming from rural areas of their countries – and the viciousness and vulnerability to an athlete is massive, with little to no recoil with those who committed the harm in the first place. Now with the understanding, their policies and practices prove nothing other then great harm.

It is important to note with all the sensational reporting that created a hyperbole of hysteria of a global proportion in international sport never seen in our history. Experts and international sport those engaged behind the scenes for the 11 month period recognize the IOC/IAAF had committed tragically the worst human rights abuse and rape of young healthy women in international sport history.

We have ethical protocol, set standards and guidelines through our universal anti-doping program citing the highest standards, to protect the very identities of athletes who are using drugs and other techniques to cheat the sports system. In-fact, millions of dollars are paid to the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) by governments around the world as part of the commitment to the Olympic family. But when it comes to a person(s) gender, the most private and very essence of a human being, we project globally – The IAAF goes even one step further Friday September 11th, 2009, STATEMENT ON CASTER SEMENYA, creating a Press Release of her very personal matter making it the worlds business.  Where in-fact in the end, sadly none of it was true.  Only to be seen as furthering the tragedy, moreover the incompetence, lacking ethics and accountability of the IAAF and IOC, and assuring Caster the athletes privacy and her protection.

The production touches on IOC/IAAF did not want to see this go to court, as it would open pandora’s box, regarding gender testing and the history and impact on dozens of women, over several decades. The hesitation of Caster’s reinstatement back into World Athletics had nothing in-fact to with Caster. But all to do with the IOC/IAAF concerns of the public awareness in-fact what they had done to her and women before her. Hence the (2) line press release by the IAAF the first week of Tuesday July 6th, 2010, releasing Caster into competition anywhere in the world, without any explanation from the IAAF.

Logistically for the IOC and IAAF, a public relations nightmare was about to unravel for them. Ironically, if there is any found humour in any of this, sadly they got caught up in their own policies and practices around gender, gender verification testing and Stockholm Consensus, committing the offenses themselves.

For Full Online Review of Documentary – “Click Here”

We society, sport leaders and media let it happen, thinking the IOC and IAAF new what they were doing. In-fact, we accepted and we felt we could punish the athletes and felt we even had a right to do it, for (their) normal human difference due to our own ignorance.  In-fact like so many athletes, Caster being one of them deserved it!

It is the IOC and IAAF that need to be punished and held accountable now, not the athletes. This is a man-made issue at the highest level of international sport.

THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANGE… AND CANADA IS LEADING THE CHARGE! AWESOME!

This production put a smile on my face, and to know having such amazing effect and reaching those and making a difference for those around the world.

HUMAN DIVERSITY IN EACH ONE OF US IS TO BE CELEBRATED!

I don’t say this very often as there has been few well-done productions that articulate the issues accurately around gender in sport –

Bravo CBC and BBC! GO CANADA GO!

We will TOGETHER stop this, and assure safety and inclusion for all to participate in sport and in society, no matter ones individual diversity.  This will only happen through a collective effort and education on how we understand NORMAL human development and what “diversity” really means.

Caster will be the last woman this will ever happen too!

For Full Online Review of Documentary – “Click Here”

Published March 13th, 2011

Key reference articles dating back from December 2006, when Santhi Soundarajan was publicly humiliated by IAAF and IOC officials after the Asian Games.

Important to note, in response to Jacques Rogge’s to the Associated Press (AP) on September 14, 2009 making this case solely a IAAF problem.  When you read these key references below, you will see in contrast of his response that this has been going on for several years, and he has been made aware of it on several occasions acknowledging in-fact this is an IOC problem, and has been for decades, and has profoundly impacted women’s sport, women’s sport development since women’s participation in elite and Olympic sport, with direct ties to Dr. Arne Ljungqvist, the creator of gender testing/sex testing in women’s sport. Designed to catch “genuine sex impostors”, which has never happened in the history Olympic sport, creating only myths, undo hysteria and greater social ignorance of the vast normal physiological differences in human development in both women and men participating within sport.

Ljungqvist’s career in sport, started as chief medical director and vice-president of the IAAF at the same time chairman of the IOC Medical Commission. Just recently, retired from the IAAF, maintaining his position chairman of the IOC Medical Commission and new appointment as vice-president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).  It is important to note prior to Ljungqvist leaving the IAAF, many months after the incident with Santhi at the Asian Games, Ljungqvist had suggested publicly and to the media that, “he would be investigating Santhi’s case personally.” Ljungqvist… Did nothing, as the worlds highest ranking medical official within both the IAAF and IOC.  Knowing in 06/07 the IAAF gender policy supports and states clearly women athletes with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS).  It is documented in the IAAF policy very clearly, proven how disadvantaged the athlete is and this is no issue and nor to be contested.

Santhi was sex tested, and her silver medal in the women’s 800m event was removed.  She was then banished from track and field forever, never able to seek and complete her dreams as one of the worlds leading women’s 800m runners.  A stepping stone to the Beijing Olympics and representing her country of India. Santhi should have run in Beijing.

Instead cruelly, the IOC and IAAF left her to be the martyr of gender testing, and a symbol of their failing.

Ljungqvist left Santhi to fend for herself to be literally raped by the world media, thus attempting suicide do to the repercussions and humiliation created by the worldwide attention and media she received, making like she deserved it and was a cheater, when in-fact none of this was so, and should have never happened.

This is a severe ethics problem in leadership of the International sport system as (3) athletes in just 2 years have been publicly humiliated like Caster has been, and (9) athletes in 4 years have received similar repercussions.  Solely based on ignorance, provoked intentionally by the IOC Medical Commission directors. When asking Patrick Schamasch IOC Medical Commission president in September 2006, he admitted when asked for the science/research to back their policy, they did not have the science nor research to support their policies on these very issues and saying, “I don’t care”  if he had it right or not to Canadian sport officials. Patrick continued to say, when asked about sex testing, “Kristen, we told the world we stopped sex testing pre-2000, but we still do it…”. He said, “I can do whatever I want…. Kristen, you come to 2008 games, you play by my rules…”.

As the world of sport has now seen in a very short time span of just the last 2 years, impacting and destroying (3) athletes lives and athletic careers as we have now seen once again with Caster.

Watch CTV National News Live Interview – Kristen’s response to IAAF and IOC.

Friday September 11, 2009

Jacques Rogge is trying to wash his hands of the worst of sport and humanity we have ever seen, knowing this has been going on for years.

Please do not allow him to attempt to confuse you as he is trying to do, and allow him and his colleagues at the IOC Medical Commission wash their hands of these human rights abuses, unethical practices and inhumane treatment of women.  What has happened to Caster is crimminal and the IOC is not above the law of the rest of society.

This is our chance to change international sport, protect and empower young women, saying “No More IOC”, and you will be made accountable for what has happened to Caster Semeneya, Santhi Soundarajan and the many women publicly Raped and Humiliated by these men, who until now as a singular entity have been able to shape our global sports system with so little regard and accountability.

“This past month we watched the complete destruction of a human-being, and were responsible for it”
Dr. Kevin Wamsley, Dean of Humanities University of Western Ontario, Canada.
CBC National News, Friday September 11th, 2009.

Hence the work and efforts going on in Canada to prevent further impact on future athletes, ensuring an educational, protective, inclusionary, comprehensive and universal sports system.

I ask the International media to reflect on these references below, and not take Jacques Rogge’s comments at face value, because that is all it is.  There is nothing behind the brand in regards to these issues, and the IOC has failed the worlds sports system and global society to better understand broad diversity in all women and men that each one of us share these normal differences and human development together.

WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM… Education is so key going forward.

*Please see below references.

IOC biggest threat to future of global sport- Hindustan Times
Interview with Kristen Worley
Published – October 2007
Hindustan Times – View Full Article

Who decides what is the definition of a woman- Hindustan Times
Interview with Mianne Bagger
Published – October 2007
Hindustan Times – View Full Article

Canadian cyclist “peddles” for Santhi – Hindustan Times
Published – October 2007
Hindustan Times – View Full Article

Punishing Difference – Express Buzz
Published – January 2009
Express Buzz – View Full Article

Open Letter – Jacques Rogge - International Olympic Committee -
January 2009

Releasing Ms. Santhi Soundarajan as the “martyr” of the IOC’s failed sex and
gender policy in International sport
Kristen Worley’s website – View Full Letter

Other Key Academic and Scientific Reviews

Canada’s AthletesCAN Releases Discussion Paper
“Including Transitioned and Transitioning Athletes in Sport”
Issues, Facts and Perspectives
Published May 29th, 2009
View Full Papers

Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine Position Statement
Gender Verification in Sport
Published 1997
View Full Paper

For Further In-depth Resources and Contacts.

Kristen Worley – www.kristenworley.ca

Mianne Bagger - www.miannegolf.com

AthletesCAN – www.athletescan.com

Canadian Centre of Ethics in Sport – www.cces.ca

Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport
and Physical Activity – www.caaws.ca

Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine – www.casm-acms.org

CTV National News – Kristen’s live interview in response to Caster Semenya from South Africa, 800m runner - IAAF’s release of her medical information publicly and the IAAF’s and IOC continued poor handling of these issues.

Friday September 11th, 2009

To review interview, “Click Here”

CTV National News – Kristen’s live interview in response to Caster Semenya from South Africa, 800m runner -

IAAF World Championships, Berlin 2009.

Thursday August 20th, 2009

To review interview, “Click Here”

Globe & Mail – Thursday August 27, 2009
David Zirin and Sherry Wolf

There’s nothing sporting about sex tests

The whole thing is antiquated and stigmatizing, and says far more about those doing the testing than about the athletes tested.

Complete Article - Globe & Mail – “Click Here”

Mr. Jacques Rogge
CEO

International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Chateau de Vidy
1007 Lausanne
Switzerland

January 4th, 2009

Re: Releasing Ms. Santhi Soundarajan as the “martyr” of the IOC’s failed sex and gender policy in International sport

Dear Mr. Rogge,

I wish I was writing you and the International Olympic Committee executive board under better circumstances as we start 2009. In recent days, because of the released article published January 2nd, 2009 by The Times of India, titled “Shanti Soundarajan weaving Olympian dreams all over again”.

Go to URL -
Times of India Article – January 2, 2009

Which was followed by an article from Reuters in the UK “tabloid version” published the same day titled “Briefs – Indian athlete takes up coaching after sex test failure.”

Go to URL –
Reuters UK  Article

Upon comparison, one can see that these two articles are significantly different. Reuters used this opportunity as many media outlets around the world have done, and as you and I both saw during the Beijing games, to use Santhi as the face and “martyr” of media worldwide as it relates directly to sex and gender policies in global sport. It still continues today.

What is ironic is this was never Santhi’s problem, but one as you and I have discussed before. It is the result of the failed history of the IOC. This has gone on for decades. Reading both these articles, as an example, Santhi never failed a sex test, as she never had one. If she had, as noted with experts from around the world online with both IOC Medical Commission directors Ljungqvist/Schamasch, of which you were made privy to through emails with leaders here in Canadian government, sport and doping, that the sex testing as a test does not exist. The current method measures nothing, as you should be aware of as I sit on international boards representing intersex person(s) in Canada with the “world experts” and that normal human development is vast and there are numerous variations, and it is the IOC that is problematic, by insisting on enforcing the standards of an unnatural human sex and gender binary in global sport.

Continue reading ‘Open Letter – Jacques Rogge International Olympic Committee (IOC) – January 4th, 2009′

I guess that’s the question we’re all asking! One would assume that anything coming under the umbrella of the Olympic logo and/or brand is required to follow governance as directed by the parent organisation. National Olympic organisations would then be required to follow the same rules and procedures set forth by the IOC of course. As we have since learnt that the IOC still carries out sex testing, the OCA was in fact merely following IOC procedures. Although the IOC announced it would stop sex testing, it has maintained the ‘right’ to test any athlete upon reasonable suspicion.
Published – October 2007
Hindustan Times – Full Article