Tag Archive for 'inclusion in sport'

Volume 9 Issue 4 April 2011

IAAF: hyperandrogenism rules are challenge proof

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is confident that its rules on the eligibility of females with hyperandrogenism will withstand legal challenge when they are published on 1 May. Hyperandrogenism is a medical condition involving excessive production of hormones (androgens) such as testosterone.

Guidelines published by the International Olympic Committee on 5 April and the IAAF rules allow a female with hyperandrogenism to compete in women’s events ‘provided that she has androgen levels below the male range (measured by testosterone levels in serum)’. “We have received good feedback from lawyers and human rights experts”, said an IAAF spokesperson. “It is the only way to deal with this issue from a medical point of view. If we don’t have rules on this, we will also face legal challenge from other female athletes.”

Kristen Worley, founder of the Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport, questioned basing eligibility rules on androgen levels. “It flies in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the tremendous hormonal variability among humans”, she said. “This sets up many other young people for the devastating treatment that Caster Semenya experienced.”

Both the IAAF and IOC also dismissed concerns that by making an athlete who fails a hyperandrogenism test ineligible, they are posing a threat to their privacy. ‘A female athlete who declines, fails or refuses to comply with the eligibility determination process under the regulations shall not be eligible to compete in women’s competition’, read a 14 April IAAF release. Both the IAAF and IOC said there had been similar cases in the past that had been kept private. “Early detection for example under the Athlete Biological Passport will eliminate this issue”, said an IAAF spokesperson.

The IOC’s hyperandrogenism rules are scheduled for approval at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, 1-9 July. “Once all athletes have their own biological passports, a case would be identified by abnormal hormone levels”, said an IOC spokesperson. “Since it may take some years for biological passports to become fully applicable, we will rely on the following mechanisms to trigger an androgen investigation: (i) the athlete may have symptoms that make her consult her team doctor; (ii) a pre-participation health examination may reveal there is a problem; (iii) a suspicion may arise in the doping control station; or (iv) a doping control analysis may reveal an abnormal hormone pattern”.

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Published May 2011

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2010

Sport leaders request that random gender verification testing of female athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver be prohibited

Toronto, Canada: The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport requests that the organizing committee of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games prohibit random gender verification testing of female athletes at the Games, in the best interest of all international female athletes.

“The statements from the IOC following its Gender Summit in Miami in January 2010 do not demonstrate any intent by the IOC to eliminate the inequities and discriminatory impact of gender testing in sport. By classifying gender ambiguities as disorders requiring treatment, the IOC is pathologizing a normal spectrum of humanity. By assuming that the only relevant gender issue is in women’s events, the IOC ignores the potential advantage of physical characteristics associated with the female form (flexibility, for example) to men in certain sports. In addition, the IOC policy is excessively discretionary and subjective in that the IOC does not state what criteria are relevant to a determination of “male” or “female”. By subjecting only certain women to the policy, the IOC also leaves women open to witch hunts and being requested to undergo body modification. By any standard, the IOC’s approach is a violation of international laws prohibiting gender discrimination and the IOC’s own commitment to equality and the right to play. We continue to urge the IOC to adopt the proposed gender policy alternative of the Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion. ”

Gender verification testing is a violation of human rights, specifically the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also violates the Olympic Movement’s stated commitments to equality and the right to play.

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Published – January 2010

Key References

The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport – Position Statement
The Guiding Principles for Inclusion in Sport
* Presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) January 7th, 2010

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The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport advocates an inclusive sport system open to all people, at all levels of participation. We believe that the rules of organized sport have for too long marginalized or excluded people for reasons other than their athletic ability.

In January the International Olympic Committee is hosting a summit on gender and sport. Recently, the IOC has made decisions that have a very negative impact on women. The decision to exclude female ski jumpers at the Vancouver Olympic Games, thus requiring Canada to host an event that discriminates on the basis of gender in a country in which gender discrimination is prohibited, is very discouraging to Canadians whose laws will be violated.

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In addition, the IOC’s long history of persecuting women who do not fit the IOC’s narrow definition of gender, has a humiliating and extremely upsetting impact on these women and is a violation of their dignity.

As athletes committed to inclusive sport and the shared values of the Olympic movement, and to human compassion for all living beings, we urge the IOC to commit to equitable and inclusive sport processes, that do not marginalize a person based on culture, sexuality, gender, physical ability or any other factor that is irrelevant to a person’s actual (rather than assumed) ability to participate in sport.

We request that the IOC work with and listen to international professionals inrelevant fields of expertise, international and national sport governing bodies, women’s and men’s organizations, and athletes who have been marginalized and effected by policies created by the IOC. IOC policies directly effect athletes lives, and their participation in high performance sport.

Because of the IOC’s accountability to sport and its participants, we urge the IOC to ensure complete transparency of any policy that directly affect the development and assurance of equitable sport. As the Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport, we seek to assure a sport system that is inclusive, safe and sustainable. We urge the IOC to aspire to similar goals that truly reflect the evolution of the Olympic Movement and its values in modern society.

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Published December 2009