Tag Archive for 'gender in sport'

The New York Times – For Women at Games, Messages Are Mixed
By JERÉ LONGMAN
Published: April 25, 2012

If Saudi Arabia treated women any more dismissively, it could host the Masters.

After signaling that Saudi women may be allowed to compete in the Olympics for the first time at the London Games, Saudi officials retreated. The only possibility remaining, it seems, is that a few Saudi women might gain entry as unofficial participants. They must walk behind men at home, but apparently cannot walk behind the Saudi flag in London.

“Saudi Arabia has pretty much decided to play hedgehog, head pulled in, spikes out,” said Christoph Wilcke, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch, who wrote a scathing report about the discrimination against female athletes in the ultraconservative Islamic kingdom, where even physical education classes and sports club memberships are prohibited. “They are irked by all this attention.”

As the London Games approach, all sorts of mixed messages are being sent about women, some by women themselves, having more to do with what they will wear and how they will behave and how they should be controlled than about how they will perform in competition.

In a recent profile of the beach volleyball player Zara Dampney, The London Evening Standard noted, “She’s got one of the most talked-about bottoms in British Olympic sport but can’t understand the fascination with it.”

Officials of the International Amateur Boxing Association, noted fashion mavens, had a brilliant idea over the past year, a fistic version of “Project Runway.”

They suggested that women try wearing skirts in competition, urging pleats to feminize the punches. The man in charge of the association — they are always men — said he had received complaints that spectators could not tell women from men beneath the protective headgear. Instead of referring these spectators to optometrists, he referred the boxers to the Ring Magazine spring collection.

READ Full Article: “Click Here”

Published April 25th, 2012

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April 4th, 2012 | CTV National News – Facing Gender Discrimination

Facing gender discrimination
Following the Miss Universe Pagents’ decision to change their rules regarding gender, Cyclist Kristen Worley discusses how she faced similar discrimination within her own sport of high-performance cycling, claiming existing policies oppress the athlete.

Watch Full Interview – “Click Here”

Published April 4th, 2012

WTA – World Tennis Association – Launches “Strong is Beautiful” Campaign.

ROME, Italy – The WTA unveiled a new global ad campaign with the tagline “Strong is Beautiful”, featuring 38 current and next generation stars of the sport. The campaign includes TV, print and digital ads along with social media applications and will be unveiled across 80 markets over the next two years.

Drawing upon athleticism and grace – a unique combination that has turned the stars of the WTA into the most recognizable and followed female athletes on the planet – the campaign places the personal stories, pressures and dreams of the players front of stage. The creative is designed to support the WTA’s efforts to establish a deeper engagement with fans around the world and to promote both the sport’s next generation of players along with current established names.

“We want to develop a closer relationship with our fans and attract a new generation of fans to women’s tennis, and the Strong is Beautiful campaign is one way to get it done. This campaign will serve as a creative marketing platform for our players, tournaments, year-end WTA Championships and the entire sport,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman & CEO of the WTA. “The personal stories are inspirational. The unique combination of athleticism, strength and determination on the court and success, interests and inner beauty off the court is what makes women’s tennis so attractive to millions around the world.”

“It takes so many elements to reach the top of such a competitive sport as tennis – strength of character, discipline and willpower. All of these things define who we are as people and as athletes. For me the new campaign captures the inner strength of players in a beautiful way,” Caroline Wozniacki said.

Goto Full Article - “Click Here”

Published Feb 6th, 2012

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Play the Game 2011 Day 3 Part 3/Cologne 2011 – Gender Session in Video

The second session concerned the “intersex challenge to sport”, a subject with huge consequences for athletes.

About Ljungqvist, Facius and Kidd

Arne Ljungqvist (SWEDEN), Chairman of the IOC Medical Commission asked: “Is there a need for a third sex in sport?” His answer was “no”.Ljungqvist is responsible for the end to “gender verification” in the IAAF and the IOC.

Georg M. Facius (DENMARK), who followed Ljungqvist violently accused him of reinstating gender verification with the new IOC policy on intersex athletes, a claim that Ljungqvist denies, saying that the question is one not of gender verification, but of confirming eligibility of athletes to compete in women’s divisions.

Bruce Kidd (CANADA), an academic and former Olympic athlete, proposed an alternative to current biochemical-based thinking in the form of gender self-declaration.

Goto Full Video of complete session “Click Here”
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Published January 27th, 2012

Laura Robson’s rainbow hair-band follows a long tradition of political statements in the sporting arena.
By Tanya Aldred

Political protest works best with simple imagery. Think of the black-gloved salutes, by Tommie Smith and John Carlos, at the 1968 Olympics or the black armbands worn by Andy Flower and Henry Olonga at the 2003 cricket World Cup.

Goto Full Article - “CLICK HERE”

Published January 18th, 2012

A picture paints a thousands words – International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) meeting of 2011 wrapped up in Lausanne.

Source: IOC Newsletter released today Friday December 9th, 2011- Newsletter 93

Where are all the women IOC board executives? A picture paints a thousand words…

There are (two executive females) around the table – A true representation of the IOC’s vision of inclusion/development of women in sport and sport administration. Moreover the barriers of diversity and gender in the international system.

This is the problem, and an enormous one at that – facing so many athletes and women in the system from participation and excelling – let alone the gender policies that exist and the direct impact of gender policy/verification placing limits on women’s bodies by men. These are the guys making those decisions. It is outrageous, and those who are impacted directly the athletes wear these guys decisions directly – where they remain arms length from it all – Their vision of woman….

On more than average, a lot of grey hair in the room -

How can we move forward in sport, social development and project a model that is reflective of modern society and its future, when the climate is as such as this?  The answer, we cannot! Thus my own personal experience, this model slides down to other countries and NSO’s as it pertains to sport governance and administration practices models.

This photo this morning sent out by the IOC media was just shocking – but again speaks volumes to the challenges and barriers of international sport governance, inclusive policy and best practices models for access for women and moving the yard sticks forward around issues of diversity that effect so many people around the world – we cannot when the model looks like this.

Women will continue to be put in a vulnerable place and continued injustices – and barriers will continue, and the “catastrophic” impact it has had on so many already and in the future.

Need is say more …

Athletic Body Diversity – Photo-shoot of various Olympic-level athletes by Howard Schartz and Beverly Ornstein titled “The Athlete”

This is a photo-shoot of various Olympic-level athletes by Howard Schartz and Beverly Ornstein titled “The Athlete”. Like many others I tend to fall into the trap of drawing the same body type over and over for athletic characters. This photoshoot serves as awesome reference reminding us artists that strong bodies come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and muscles show up in different ways. It also helps us keep in mind that not everyone who is fit is also lean. There’s often a layer of fat over the muscles, making them less visible for some. I wanted to share this in a convenient way so here it is:

Goto Entire Collection “Click Here”

Published November 2011

Play the Game 2011 – Gender Session – IOC Medical Chair deemed “Incompetent” after 50 years of the “failure” of gender testing and policy. Asked to step down immediately!

Monday October 3rd, 2011 organizers of Play the Game during a week long conference  titled; “Bring Change to the heart of Sport” with leading delegates and experts converging on Cologne Germany, at the University of Cologne to discuss issues impacting international and Olympic sport programming. From issues of anti-doping, sport gambling, organizational corruption and issues of gender and human rights.

On Wednesday, the session titled; “Little Difference, Huge Impact: The Gender Challenge to Sport” began the day. Led by a joint key note presentation from Prof. Arne Ljungqvist, International Olympic Committee [IOC] Chairman – father of gender testing and policy. Presenting in direct parallel with Ljungqvist was Danish Georg Facius, IAAF Technical Official and key official and expert of both the EAA’s Anti-doping and Competition Committees.

Upon conclusion of Facius ground breaking presentation which he states; “All along through most of these 50 years Arne Ljungquist has been the man with the overall and main responsibility for gender testing, firstly within IAAF and now within the IOC, and it is beyond me how he himself, with his history, can continue in charge of this, and as chairman of the IOC medical commission, and how on top of 50 years of failure, he can be allowed to do so, by the responsible bodies. I can only urge him to have the decency to step down.”

Georg Facius complete  presentation titled; “Trying to Verify The “Proper” Gender of Athletes”

Later that afternoon, Canadian Dr. Bruce Kidd, O.C., PhD. and Olympian in mens athletics presented in parallel to Georg Facius earlier keynote presentation with Ljungqvist, titled; “For gender self-declaration”. Kidd, speaks about “Misdiagnosis”, saying; “The Challenge is NOT “intersex” or atypically athletes. But a social problem resulting from reassertion of moral physiology, fear/demonization of difference and patriarchal control of sport.”
Going further to suggest that there is “so much variation among humans” from “body composition and biochemistry, household and community resources, especially access to bio-medical technology and sport sciences, cultural norms of which are all related to competitive performance.”

Kidd suggests, “The Olympic Movement “celebrates humanity” in all its diversity, why single out this area of difference?” And that, “Self-identify is fundamental to human rights and the ideal of self-expression that is the basis of Olympic sport.” Then asking the fundamental question, “How can the Olympic Movement, which encourages and affirms the right of self-expression through sport, deny the right of self-identity to some humans?”

Upon conclusion, Dr. Kidd profoundly states; “By elevating the results of performance to be the determining metric of the Olympic Movement, the new gender verification requirements further marginalize the educational and intercultural goals of Coubertin, ” the “chill of surveillance culture is heightened.”

Thus stating, as did Facius in his earlier presentation stated; “The IOC must abolish the targeted ‘gender investigation’ once and for all.” Going one step further giving recommendations as next steps, removing the IOC from making such decisions that effect all sport as it pertains to gender, and that; “Academics, policy makers and journalists contribute to this effort, especially the deconstruction of gender and the furtherance of inclusive language.” and move towards; “The Olympic Movement and the broad sport community re-invigorate their efforts to empower women, especially at the level of leadership.” and; “As much as possible, school and community sport be re-organized on the basis of athletic ability, rather than gender.”

Published October 2011

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(6) Key Supporting References -
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NYTimes – April 24th, 2011 – Redefining the Sexes in Unequal Terms

Author: Prof. Alice Dreger, clinical medical humanities and bioethics.

Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Chicago, Illinois, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Transgender Student-Athletes and Sex-Segregated Sport: Developing Policies of Inclusion for Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Athletics

Erin Buzuvis
Western New England College School of Law – July 20, 2010

Download Complete Research Document “PDF” CLICK HERE

Volume 9 Issue 6 – June 2011 World Sports Law Report
Eligibility: The IAAF hyperandrogenism regulations and discrimination
Author: Shawn Crincoli – Associate Professor of Law

Touro College, New York, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Volume 9 Issue 4 – April 2011 World Sports Law Report
IAAF: hyperandrogenism rules are challenge proof
Author: Andy Brown [WSLR], UK.
For Full Article “Click Here”

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Lancet 2005; 366: S38 María José Martínez-Patiño
Personal Account A woman tried and tested

“As I was about to enter the January, 1986, national championships, I was
told to feign an injury and to withdraw from racing quietly, graciously, and
permanently. I refused. When I crossed the line first in the 60m hurdles, my
story was leaked to the press. I was expelled from our athletes’ residence, my
sports scholarship was revoked, and my running times were erased from my
country’s athletics records. I felt ashamed and embarrassed. I lost friends, my
fiancé, hope, and energy. But I knew that I was a woman, and that my genetic
difference gave me no unfair physical advantage. I could hardly pretend to be
a man; I have breasts and a vagina. I never cheated. I fought my
disqualification.”

Download Full Review “Click Here”

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An approach to the biological, historical and psychological repercussions of gender verification in top level competitions

Martínez-Patiño et al. / Gender verification in top level competitions JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE – VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 3 | 2010 |

MARÍA JOSÉ MARTÍNEZ-PATIÑO1, COVADONGA MATEOS-PADORNO2, AURORA MARTÍNEZ-VIDAL3, ANA MARÍA SÁNCHEZ MOSQUERA1, JOSÉ LUIS GARCÍA SOIDÁN1, MARÍA DEL PINO DÍAZ PEREIRA3, CARLOS FRANCISCO TOURIÑO GONZÁLEZ1
1Faculty of Science Education and Sport, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
2Department of Physical Education, University of Las Palmas, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Spain
3Special Didactics Department. Faculty of Science Education. University of Vigo. Orense, Spain

Download Complete Review “Click Here”

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Published September 2011

US Women’s Sports Foundation – Intersex “Position Statement” discards respect of individual women athletes’ legal rights and privacy.

The US Women’s Sports Foundation [USWSF] published their position statement “PARTICIPATION OF INTERSEX ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS” on September 20th, 2011.

Linking a respected international athlete NAME, IMAGE and in context directly in the “Position Statement”. Online, in the “Content Summary” using her name, and suggesting a medical type, which is in-fact UNTRUE. The impact to her life is enormous, as it is and would be to any other athlete. It is unbelievable that any recognized organization let alone the USWSF has done this, and felt empowered enough that they could, breaking basic legal and ethical standards, let alone feel have a right to exploit and athletes life.

In any case, this is illegal in the context of developing a public statement and policy, by a national organization that governs in this case, women’s sport. It is illegal anytime, let alone in sport. The use of pseudonyms should be always used, assuring protection of a person(s) individual identity, respecting their privacy. The second problem, the USWSF has attached this athletes, NAME and IDENTITY with use of a photographic image as the introduction to the Position Statement. Thus feeling they have the right to exploit an athletes medial history, which is in-fact UNTRUE. Furthermore the inaccuracies throughout the document around the topic of Intersex.

Image used on USWSF website:

The irony is, the USWSF speak about inclusion, and by design of the communications on their website, as well the final “Position Statement”.

On the heals of the NCAA policy statement around inclusion of transgender athletes on September 13th, 2011 – Speaks volume to the greater problem that is occurring in policy development around gender. First of all, the people who are in-fact experts, are not engaged in development of these policies. Moreover, and most importantly, in both cases clearly illustrates, if an athlete is “assumed” outside the Atypical binary, that as the USWSF has clearly illustrated, that an athletes personal rights and privacy is revoked. And that, USWSF has now has clearly broken the law, and obviously felt empowered that they had a right to do this without any conscious thought, as certainly the level of the communications design supports this.

We don’t need to police athletes or gender, we need to police the person(s) an organizations who are creating horrific policy who in-fact are the problem. At the end of the day, the athletes are the ones that are directly paying for it.

The use of the word “Approved” by the NCAA, who’s approving what…? In the case of the USWSF, again begs simple questions of just basic legal responsibilities of individuals.

Inclosing, the athletes are not the problem. It is those in organizations such as the USWSF and NCAA , one unqualified and as illustrated complete incompetence to ascertain and or develop policy to this regard. Yet again, as the NCAA has displayed, and now USWSF, that they are only happy to engage in illegal practices, clearly for notoriety and financial compensation at the very risk and continued catastrophic outcomes of other female athletes careers and lives. Ironically, breaking all ethical and legal standards and responsibilities, as a national body to govern women’s sport, and followed around the world, that in this case is UNTRUE.

This is a great example of the actual problem! Having nothing to do with the athletes whatsoever. All to do with those suggesting expertise and those developing policy let alone thinking their is even a need for it who are in-fact the problem – creating catastrophic outcomes impacting individual athletes only to last them a lifetime.[sic]

The irony is, and in this very case who developed this position statement are legally trained individuals, thus inappropriately breaking and disregarding basic legal rights and privacy of individuals. Thus too, paralleling a individual to a a medical “type” which is in-fact, UNTRUE. [sic]

USWSF, who is watching who? As clearly illustrated,  have no standards of practice and du-diligence.

Goto Full Position Statement – “Click Here”

Published October 2011

CIS in no rush to mirror NCAA transgender policy
Canadian athletic community meets NCAA policy with mixed responses

By Kevin Menz — The Sheaf (University of Saskatchewan)

SASKATOON (CUP) — The National Collegiate Athletic Association recently adopted a new policy for transgender athletes, but Canadian Interuniversity Sport and many other Canadian athletic associations are in no rush to do the same.

The NCAA’s policy states that any athlete who has testosterone in their system as the result of medical treatment cannot compete on a women’s team. If a male is transitioning or has transitioned to a female, the athlete can compete on a women’s team if they provide documentation showing that they have undergone testosterone suppression treatment for one full year.

Goto Full Article  - “Click Here”

Published September 2011

Sept 20, 2011 – US Womens Sports Foundation… Positions Statement PARTICIPATION OF INTERSEX ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS

The Women’s Sports Foundation believes that women with intersex conditions have the same rights to participation in athletics as all women. It is also our position that eligibility standards for women’s sports that require an athlete to demonstrate particular hormone levels promote the policing of gender by medical means, leading to the unwarranted invasions of privacy not only for intersex athletes, but any athlete whose femininity is questioned. Moreover, any policy that singles out women’s sports for eligibility based on hormone levels is discriminatory and sends the harmful message that female athletes are uniquely vulnerable and in need of special protection from the normal, natural variation in size, skill, and athletic ability that exists among members of either sex.

Download Complete Policy Statement “Click Here”

Published September 2011

Absolute Brilliants! September 21st, 2011 – Ladies European Tour [LET] – STRONG START FOR BAGGER IN DINARD LADIES OPEN.

Denmark’s Mianne Bagger made a strong start at the Dinard Ladies Open, in Brittany.

The Dane scored an opening round of six-under-par 64 on a blustery and cool day at Dinard Golf on the coast of north-western France.

Bagger, who started on the tenth hole and carded five birdies for an outward 29 and 35 on her back nine, was delighted with her round. She said “I putted really well today, I had just 25 putts. I changed putters last week to an old ‘Bull’s Eye’ that I’ve had for 12 years and I holed everything. The greens are rolling really well.”

Goto Full LET Article “Click Here”

Published September 2011

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September 12, 2011 - NCLR Applauds New NCAA Inclusion Policy through “FORCED MEDICALIZATON” suggesting it Benefits Transgender Student Athletes in Intercollegiate and High School Sport Athletes.

The National Center For Lesbian Rights applauds the NCAA for their “inclusion” policy of which they were contracted to guide the NCAA around the issues of gender variant young women and men in intercollegiate and high school sport in the United States. Without evidence, approved a policy which forces young college and high school students, who have varying degrees of “gender variance” to seek “forced medicalization” of their bodies to which their gender naturally identifies, to “PLAY A GAME/SPORT” to be seen as socially acceptable, either one of the distinct two binaries, male or female. Of which, not one living human being fits let alone athlete.

This is outrageous,  and to force a child/young adult  through forced medicalization based on problems with social science, and if proper applied science and research was actually done, there is no issue for a gender variant youth to participate in their given sport of which they identify.

“We are using policy to force change nature to meet a man-made binary, rather than changing the man-made binary to meet nature’s design.”

This is a social ethics problem, the NCAA has failed horribly. The document speaks to men being superior to women physically. Not so. Thus asking much bigger question of ALL women, and how women are seen in sport and society.  This just reflects the current social problems and women’s barriers to participation.

This announcement by the NCLR and NCAA is very sad. Certainly not accurate and or reflective of sport, sport science and where sport is going as it pertains to gender.  This is a step backwards, and only reinforcing male/female narrow stereotypes and is not inclusive, in-fact forced exclusion.  Telling young gender variant women and men of varying degrees, which is common and natural, “forced medicalization” must take place if you wish to participate and “PLAY A GAME”. Along with that, we will make you jump through hoops and out yourself to do it. Moreover keeping in mind, as they mention one all privately and in confidence. Though completely unnecessary and inaccurate this policy, historically there has never been ONE incident where an athlete he/she has ever been protected and or privacy respected. It is impossible the NCAA and NCLR cannot provide privacy.

I worry greatly for a child ever getting into a situation where these institutions  can ever use such horrific policies.  Already vulnerable and terrified, this does not protect the athlete, but the NCAA.  This policy sets the NCAA up for a massive human rights case by a child/young adult ever having to go through such a process to play their sport.  Not with standing, the catastrophic impact to the individual athlete.

What were they thinking – We are forcing young people through policy to change their bodies to which they identify, to meet a man-made binary to play a game, to “fit in” within a binary code know-one fits. Instead of thinking outside the box, changing sport and sport policy” we are forcing nature to change to fit dated policy (which only reinforces the male stereo-type and division between two sexes),  forcing young people back into the very box they have spent their entire lives fighting to get out of.

That is the NCAA’s and NCLR’s vision of inclusion. How about starting over, and work on education and ‘Best Practices’ and not policy. You can’t create policy if you don’t have the right information.

An all time low for the NCAA, sport and diversity/inclusion.  A policy to be proud of NCLR. This is not an inclusive policy, in-fact completely exclusionary.

NCLR Press Release September 12, 2011 “Click Here”

NCAA Press Release September 13, 2011“Click Here”

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(6) Key Supporting References -
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NYTimes – April 24th, 2011 – Redefining the Sexes in Unequal Terms

Author: Prof. Alice Dreger, clinical medical humanities and bioethics.

Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Chicago, Illinois, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Transgender Student-Athletes and Sex-Segregated Sport: Developing Policies of Inclusion for Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Athletics

Erin Buzuvis
Western New England College School of Law – July 20, 2010

Download Complete Research Document “PDF” CLICK HERE

Volume 9 Issue 6 – June 2011 World Sports Law Report
Eligibility: The IAAF hyperandrogenism regulations and discrimination
Author: Shawn Crincoli – Associate Professor of Law

Touro College, New York, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Volume 9 Issue 4 – April 2011 World Sports Law Report
IAAF: hyperandrogenism rules are challenge proof
Author: Andy Brown [WSLR], UK.
For Full Article “Click Here”

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Lancet 2005; 366: S38 María José Martínez-Patiño
Personal Account A woman tried and tested

“As I was about to enter the January, 1986, national championships, I was
told to feign an injury and to withdraw from racing quietly, graciously, and
permanently. I refused. When I crossed the line first in the 60m hurdles, my
story was leaked to the press. I was expelled from our athletes’ residence, my
sports scholarship was revoked, and my running times were erased from my
country’s athletics records. I felt ashamed and embarrassed. I lost friends, my
fiancé, hope, and energy. But I knew that I was a woman, and that my genetic
difference gave me no unfair physical advantage. I could hardly pretend to be
a man; I have breasts and a vagina. I never cheated. I fought my
disqualification.”

Download Full Review “Click Here”

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

An approach to the biological, historical and psychological repercussions of gender verification in top level competitions

Martínez-Patiño et al. / Gender verification in top level competitions JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE – VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 3 | 2010 |

MARÍA JOSÉ MARTÍNEZ-PATIÑO1, COVADONGA MATEOS-PADORNO2, AURORA MARTÍNEZ-VIDAL3, ANA MARÍA SÁNCHEZ MOSQUERA1, JOSÉ LUIS GARCÍA SOIDÁN1, MARÍA DEL PINO DÍAZ PEREIRA3, CARLOS FRANCISCO TOURIÑO GONZÁLEZ1
1Faculty of Science Education and Sport, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
2Department of Physical Education, University of Las Palmas, Campus Universitario de Tafira, Spain
3Special Didactics Department. Faculty of Science Education. University of Vigo. Orense, Spain

Download Complete Review “Click Here”

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Published September 2011

The Gazette – Savinova edges Semenya for 800m title
Agence France-Presse September 4, 2011 8:12 AM

Mariya Savinova of Russia (L) celebrates winning the women’s 800 metres final with second-placed Caster Semenya of South Africa at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu September 4, 2011.
Photograph by: Kim Kyung-Hoon, Reuters

Daegu, South Korea, Sept 4, 2011 (AFP) – Russian Mariya Savinova rained on Caster Semenya’s parade on Sunday, nipping past the controversial South African for world gold in the women’s 800m. Reigning world indoor and European champion Savinova timed her run to perfection, coming from near the back of the pack at 600m to clinch the victory in 1min 55.87sec.

Read Full Article: “Click Here”
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COMMENT:
Today’s results illustrates the IOC’s historic threat to womens sports.

Congratulations to both Mariya and Caster…. These results speak loud and strengthens the resolve as the “projected” controversy around gender testing, Stockholm Consensus and the new Hyperandrogenism Rule is not an athlete problem, but solely the IOC and IAAF problem, in-fact who are the “controversy”. A social science problem at the highest level of international sport on how WOMEN ARE SEEN AS ATHLETES AND THEIR ABILITIES TO PERFORM WELL.

Important to note, Mariya’s finishing time today in Daegu today was 1:55.87, which she ran at  last years Worlds 2010 1:57.56. Caster’s winning time at 2009 World’s in Berlin 1:55.45. Caster’s second place time today was clocked at 1:57.42.

Three more women running sub 1:58.00 today…. Savinova 2009 Worlds time, 1:58.68, almost (3) seconds slower than what she ran today. Moreover, looking at the 2009, 2010 and 2011 results, a significant improvement by overall women’s speed which is absolutely fantastic! The women’s 800m contingency was in a lull for many years -

*Important to note Mariya dominated the 2011 season in the 800m. Fabulous to see these incredible women run, breathing new life and interest in the 800m event, which has been stagnant for a very long-time.

Are the IOC and IAAF now going to find a fault in Mariya’s gifted physiology and design a policy around her ability to compete, and disable her and take away from her ability to run well?  I am waiting to see the policy that comes out on Usain Bolt (“Lightening Bolt” policy for men who run to fast), and his complete and expected domination and paid millions to do so, over every 100m and 200m male runner in the field, to find fault to slow him down to create fairness with other male competitors in the top elite men. Bolt marketed by BOTH the IAAF and IOC earning millions of dollars as a major financial draw at the box office ticket sales,and putting a heartbeat of public and financial interest back into Athletics over the last several years.

It seems though, women don’t qualify  and are not deemed in the same genre or pursuit as men, when we do incredible world class performances, in-fact penalized for it.  The big question is “Why?”.

In the end and reflecting to sport leaders and international colleagues, I am very pleased with the women’s results and the scale of improvement in the women’s 800m.

Today you don’t see the IAAF/IOC running out “forcing” and invasive and illegal gender test on Mariya as she was the ONLY woman that ran into 1:55.00 (she looks feminine enough that’s why…), as in 2009 Caster was forced into a situation for an outstanding performance of which has become common place with Usain Bolt. Of which when he does not perform, we question “what’s going on with him making a big deal out of a false start that no other athlete had a problem with on the 100m final start-line”, expecting him to perform. As Usain said in an interview with the CBC in Daegu just after his 200m win, “I came today to do it for the fans… to show them I am the best.”

When a women does it, she becomes a controversy – thus is gender tested, which proves nothing and seen as a “tool of oppression”. Where women now feeling fear to perform well as a woman, you will be gender tested, a highlighting threat put upon women’s performance. Thus projects, “if you do not look feminine enough and perform well, we’ll get you…”

Why is it men get that chance and women do not? When women do it, they are then punished so inhumanely for it. Raped psychologically and physically (without consent or knowledge), humiliated globally, and many time leading to attempted suicide, alienation and poverty. If that is not enough, sport and media together making as if the athlete deserves it and in-fact have a right to do it. Ironically there is no repercussions to those who have created such hideous harm.

Todays results clearly illustrates the situation well. The suggested “CONTROVERSY” that has been weighing over young Caster that she has had to wear and so many athletes in the past is NOT THE ATHLETES, BUT THE IOC AND FALSE POLICIES such as gender testing, Stockholm Consensus and now Hyperandrogenism Rule which have been purposely designed to oppress and mislead international sport around women’s performance,  which has only led to the most CATASTROPHIC IMPACT to women, women’s sport in modern sport history. Used as “tools of oppression” not to protect women, but to control and oppress women from performing well in their given sport. Solely do to projected ignorance and human rights violations by the IOC towards women.

Caster like all the other women impacted by gender testing over 4 decades, gender was never in question… The IOC/IAAF done in such an adhoc manner, spent 11 months trying to figure out if they did the right thing or not. Had nothing to do with in-fact with Caster, other than her having to wear their mistakes so publicly and affecting her eligibility to compete in 2010. It had all to do about them.

99% of what was reported in the media was untrue…

The IOC is the “CONTROVERSY” and the biggest threat to women’s development and participation in sport at all levels, not Caster and or any other female athletes, as Mariya handily proved today and the other female runners in the field closely behind Mariya and Caster. The IOC is the problem, FULL STOP…

The courage it has taken Caster and many other women who have fallen to these practices and harmful policies, are profound. A courage only deserving of an Olympic gold medal, that is inconceivable, and the passion for sport and the will to be included and be your very best. Something the IOC and IAAF, have faltered over the last many years deceiving and misleading the public, media and international sports system of the truths and true impact these horrific polices and practices, have catastrophically ruined so many women’s lives.

Well Done Ladies…. WOMEN ARE GREAT ATHLETES TOO IOC!!
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(5) Key Supporting References -

NOTICE
The Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] in Lausanne Switzerland, has approved jurisdiction to enable us to file legal case: “Human Rights and the Oppression of Women’s Gender in International Sport” to be issued by Kristen Worley (Canada) Cycling and Mianne Bagger (Denmark) Golf  v/International Olympic Committee [IOC].

Volume 9 Issue 6 – June 2011 World Sports Law Report
Eligibility: The IAAF hyperandrogenism regulations and discrimination
Author: Shawn Crincoli – Associate Professor of Law

Touro College, New York, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

Volume 9 Issue 4 – April 2011 World Sports Law Report
IAAF: hyperandrogenism rules are challenge proof
Author: Andy Brown [WSLR], UK.
For Full Article “Click Here”

NYTimes – April 24th, 2011 – Redefining the Sexes in Unequal Terms

Author: Prof. Alice Dreger, clinical medical humanities and bioethics.

Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Chicago, Illinois, USA.
For Full Article “Click Here”

AthletesCAN (CANADA) Canadian Olympian Nikki Dryden – Featured Article: “Hey International Olympic Committee – Your words are not enough”

The following article was written by Nikki Dryden, retired national team athlete and two-time Olympian.

For Full Article on the AthletesCAN website “Click Here”

Also can be found on the Women in Sport International Blog “Click Here”

Published September 2011