She Doesn’t Run Like a Girl: The Disqualification of Caster Semenya and the Problem with Sex Testing
Written By: Gabriel MacAdam
Photo By: Michael Steel on Zimbio
In 2009 Caster Semenya shocked the world with a record time of 1:55.45 seconds in the women’s 800 meter race which won the gold medal at the World Championships. However, her stunning victory raised questions concerning her sexual identification. Since then, competitors have openly questioned Semenya’s sex. For example, Elisa Piccione, said “For me, she is not a woman. It is useless to compete with this, and it is not fair.” Similarly, in a post-race interview, Mariya Savinova complained “Just look at her.''
Semenya’s traditionally masculine physiological appearance coupled with her athletic progression from her previous 800 meter race in the African Junior Championships caught the attention of many, including the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). According to Sofia Balzaretti of the Sports Integrity Initiative, the IAAF requested Semenya undergo a sex verification test to prove that she did not have a “medical condition” that could give her an “unfair advantage.” Semenya underwent hormone testing upon the IAAF’s request. The results concluded that for a biological female, Semenya had three times the normal amount of testosterone. This is because although Semenya was assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman, she has XY chromosomes and high levels of testosterone associated with hyperandrogenism due to a disorder of sexual development (DSD). People who have a DSD are otherwise commonly referred to as intersex. Individuals who are intersex have variations in sexual characteristics that can be chromosomal, hormonal, and genital in nature. Sometimes a DSD may be physically obvious at birth owing to ambiguity of the reproductive organs. However, some individuals with a DSD can often reach sexual maturity without ever having known that they have a DSD. Despite Semenya’s results, the IAAF cleared Semenya to return to competition in the summer of 2010 and she continued to dominate.
Semenya went on to win the 2011 Bislett Games 800 meter race with a time of 1:58.61, which was her best time since her win at the 2009 World Championship. In 2012, Semenya represented South Africa at the Summer Olympics and won the silver medal in the women’s 800 meter with a time of 1:57.23 seconds. Ironically enough, the 800 meter gold medalist who had previously questioned Semenya’s physicality, Mariya Savinova, was disqualified in November of 2015 by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA). This disqualification resulted in Semenya’s silver medal to be upgraded to gold. Semenya later won the gold medal in the women’s 800 meter race at the 2017 World Champions solidifying herself as a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Semenya’s impressive win streak throughout her career has proven that she is among one of the top athletes around the world, but is she fast enough to out run the IAAF’s discrimination?
Historically, sex testing in sports became mandatory for female athletes after the European Track and Field Championships in 1966, over fear of male athletes disguising themselves as female athletes. In particular, polish sprinter Ewa Klobukowska, was forced to undergo a physical examination to confirm her sexual identity. Traditionally, female athletes were examined by a panel of doctors in what was called a ‘nude parade,’ in which the panel would inspect the athlete’s genitals to confirm their sex. Klobukowska passed her physical examination in 1966, however, in 1967 sex testing became chromosomal and Klobukowska failed the chromosomal test despite having passed the physical exam the year before. The transition from a physical exam to chromosomal exam was due to the fact that chromosomes make up our genetic, physical and hormonal information and play a significant role in determining sex. Typically, a female has two pairs of XX chromosomes while males have two pairs of XY chromosomes. Although, as mentioned previously, there are cases in which an individual may have a DSD or in other words a misalignment of the typical male or female biological make up such as chromosome pairing. With that said, the criteria for determining sex is not as objective as male or female. In 2011, sex testing changed once again, only this time from chromosome testing to a testosterone test which limited female athletes to have 10nmol/L. Because testosterone is measured using a blood test, 10nmol/L converts to 2884.2ng/L (nano-grams) of testosterone per litre of blood, which was set as the legal limit for female athletes. This sparked debate when Indian sprinter Dutee Chand was banned for having naturally high levels of testosterone. Chand appealed her ban in 2015 and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found that there was a lack of evidence proving that testosterone increased female athletic performance. As a result, the IAAF’s policy on hyperandrogenism, or high levels of testosterone in women was suspended following the case of Dutee Chand v. Athletic Federations of India (AFI) and the IAAF. Later, the IAAF announced new rules for athletes with DSDs in 2018, which required intersex athletes with testosterone levels of 5nmol/L and above to take medication to lower their testosterone levels. These changes made by the IAAF are narrow and only apply to the 400 meter, 800 meter and 1500 meter races, all of which are Semenya’s events.
This begs the question why does testosterone enhance performance among female athletes solely within this narrow scope of events? Why does the limit apply to the 400 meter, but does not apply to the 200 meter race? Not only has the data from the studies been questioned by members of the scientific community but the study was commissioned by the IAAF. The IAAF’s targeting of Semenya coupled with its controversial evidence suggests that the IAAF’s discrimination transcends athletics and into the realm of racism.
In comparison, olympic swimmer Michael Phelps who holds the most olympic medals of all time, has a significant physiological and genetic advantage over his opponents. These advantages include, a 6’7” wing span, size 14 feet, unusually large hands, double-jointed ankles and genes that cause his muscles to produce 50% less lactic acid, all of which contribute immensely to his swimming accomplishments. In spite of these physiological and genetic abilities that demonstrate clear advantages over competitors , the IAAF did not question the need for any regulations. Although it would be difficult to regulate physiological advantages, why have the IAAF not attempted to regulate Phelps’ lack of lactic acid production? It is unfair for the IAAF to cherry pick what is considered to be an advantage among athletes like naturally high levels of testosterone, and not regulate other advantages like Phelps’ genetic ability to produce 50% less lactic acid. Of course there are a multitude of factors that contribute toward an athletes performance, however, singling out one variable in a multivariable analysis is unfair and wrong. Altogether, the IAAF’s focus on regulating high levels of testosterone for a black female athlete, while not finding it necessary to regulate other modes of athletic advantages accompanying a white male athlete is unjust and insinuates that there is an element of racism.
Semenya appealed the IAAF’s eligibility regulations for female athletes with high levels of testosterone in 2019; however, the CAS dismissed Semenya’s appeal and ruled in early Septmeber 2020 that “such discrimination is necessary” to maintain a level playing field. Consequently, unless Semenya takes medication to reduce her natural testosterone levels she can not compete in the 400 meter, 800 meter and 1500 meter track events.
What kind of message does this send regarding the inclusion of intersex athletes and for future generations? Experts estimate that between 1-1500 and 1-2000 births are atypical in terms of sexual deviations, which is anywhere between 0.0005% and 0.00067%. As of 2016, this makes up around 4 to 5 students at Saint Mary’s University, given a population of upward 6000 students. Although 4 to 5 students might seem like a small number those who are intersex should not have to modify their natural bodies in order to compete in athletics.
This is an example of a lesser known issue in sports that brings to light a series of human rights issues that we should all learn to start considering. It is incredlibly important to be socially aware and to understand that discrimination exists even at some of the highest levels of athletics, whether this be against intersex people or a racial matter. The disqualificaiton of Caster Semenya IS a human rights violation as she should be allowed to compete with the sex she identifies with and not be required to take medication to reduce her testosterone levels with unknown potential side effects.