IOC moves to protect female category
Discussion
The IOC has just announced new rules for eligibility for female Olympic events.
All athletes wishing to compete in female category must undergo a one-time screening test (cheek swab or blood test) which checks for the SRY (make male) gene. If the result is SRY+ the athlete will require further testing to establish their status.
If they have gone through male development and have the advantages that testosterone provides they are ineligible. If it is found that they have an androgen insensitivity DSD then even if XY they will be eligible to compete in the female category due to the lack of male advantage, which is what the category exists to exclude.
Policy seems sensible to me. Now it just needs to cascade down from elite all the way to grassroots.
All athletes wishing to compete in female category must undergo a one-time screening test (cheek swab or blood test) which checks for the SRY (make male) gene. If the result is SRY+ the athlete will require further testing to establish their status.
If they have gone through male development and have the advantages that testosterone provides they are ineligible. If it is found that they have an androgen insensitivity DSD then even if XY they will be eligible to compete in the female category due to the lack of male advantage, which is what the category exists to exclude.
Policy seems sensible to me. Now it just needs to cascade down from elite all the way to grassroots.
There are certainly some practical difficulties to overcome. I believe the proposed test is illegal in some countries, including France. And the cost may be an issue for some as well.
British female athletes asked to pay for own £185 sex tests
British female athletes asked to pay for own £185 sex tests
gr86_driver said:
There are certainly some practical difficulties to overcome. I believe the proposed test is illegal in some countries, including France. And the cost may be an issue for some as well.
British female athletes asked to pay for own £185 sex tests
Exactly - it wont be as simple as it seems.British female athletes asked to pay for own £185 sex tests
There's a gofundme for research to create a better test, which boggles my mind. Why is a scientist having to use crowdsourcing to raise funds for this?
gofundme said:
A solution?
As a developmental biologist, I have extensive experience in gene detection, including SRY. Using my spare laboratory time, I have been developing a very rapid, low-cost method to detect SRY from cheek swab samples.
To date, this work has been conducted at a laboratory proof-of-concept level. The next phase requires formal standardisation, validation and alignment with international quality standards, all of which require dedicated time and materials.
My aim is to then adapt my standardised, validated SRY detection method into an accessible, on-site, rapid-detection assay that could be deployed without reliance on specialist laboratory infrastructure.
As a developmental biologist, I have extensive experience in gene detection, including SRY. Using my spare laboratory time, I have been developing a very rapid, low-cost method to detect SRY from cheek swab samples.
To date, this work has been conducted at a laboratory proof-of-concept level. The next phase requires formal standardisation, validation and alignment with international quality standards, all of which require dedicated time and materials.
My aim is to then adapt my standardised, validated SRY detection method into an accessible, on-site, rapid-detection assay that could be deployed without reliance on specialist laboratory infrastructure.
Follow up article from the BBC.
IOC: The key question for sport after biological female decision - BBC Sport
Original article mentioned up thread
Women's Olympic sports limited to biological females from 2028 - IOC - BBC Sport
Some of the commentators quoted in the more recent article don't seem to understand that the cheek swab is only a screen and doesn't in itself result in exclusion from the female category.
Ultimately it's no different to getting a boxer or weightlifter to stand on a scale to prove they're entitled to participate in a particular weight category.
IOC: The key question for sport after biological female decision - BBC Sport
Original article mentioned up thread
Women's Olympic sports limited to biological females from 2028 - IOC - BBC Sport
Some of the commentators quoted in the more recent article don't seem to understand that the cheek swab is only a screen and doesn't in itself result in exclusion from the female category.
Ultimately it's no different to getting a boxer or weightlifter to stand on a scale to prove they're entitled to participate in a particular weight category.
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