Sex determination tests for female Beijing athlete

saratiddyThu 31/07/08 14:40

A decision to test female contenders for the Beijing 2008 Olympics to see if they are men has caused uproar.

Any participating female who is suspected of being a male will be evaluated from their external appearances by experts and undergo blood tests to examine their sex hormones, genes and chromosomes for sex determination, according to Prof. Tian Qinjie of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Initial test results would be available in three days, while an official result takes seven days.

The tests were first introduced in the 60s to catch out Olympic cheats who tried to pass off men as women to win events and up until 1999, every female had to be tested.

The idea was scrapped because of the controversy surrounding the procedure and the fact that only women are tested.

Chromosomal abnormalities may cause a woman to fail a test, even though it gives her no competitive advantage, says the New York Times.

Also, if a female athlete fails a test she must have a physiological examination, which many consider invasive and a privacy violation.

Xinhua news agency reports that Polish Olympic winner Ewar Kobukkowska was the first athlete to be banned after she failed the early form of a chromosome test in 1967.

She won a gold medal in the women's 4 X 100 metre relay and the bronze in the women's 100 metre sprint at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

She was found to have a rare genetic condition that gave her no advantage over other athletes, but was nonetheless banned from competing in the Olympics and professional sports.

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, eight athletes failed the tests but were all cleared by subsequent examinations.

In another case, Indian middle distance runner Santhi Soundarajan attempted suicide after she failed the sex determination test at the 2006 Asian Games and was stripped of her medal.

The Beijing Games begin on 8th August.

Article: www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-8556.html

satyr_zaThu 31/07/08 14:45

wouldn't it be faster just to flash your bits?

saratiddyThu 31/07/08 14:45

quoting > "Any participating female who is suspected of being a male will be evaluated from their external appearances by experts "

... PARDON!!!!! I suddenly see loads of male doctors proding and poking her to determine her gender.

I can see it now, "Yes you can have your Gold Medal, once your flashed your fanny at us"

I can only guess that a Man was behind this idea, no way woul;d a male athlete be put through this humilation.

It is a good way to stop medals being awarded, if a county does not like their athlete was beaten they can accuse the winner of being a man.

satyr_zaThu 31/07/08 14:47

I was only kidding, sorry *head down*

Personally, if I had to go through all those tests. I rather just slap my bits on a table!

(it is blatantly sexist though)

philjohnThu 31/07/08 14:49

Remember Tamara Press.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamara_Press

hahaha I love the last line.

saturosThu 31/07/08 14:50

quoting > "It is a good way to stop medals being awarded, if a county does not like their athlete was beaten they can accuse the winner of being a man."

To be fair it'll only happen in extreme cases. There are many ways to determine of a gender too - not only just the obvious.

Urine tests are pretty routine in athletics circles anyhow so they could test that for the level of oestrogen while they conduct drug tests.

I don't think it's unfair to ask that all women who take part in a female event are actually women - there have been well documented cases of athletes from Eastern and Central Europe competiting only to find out they are infact male.

satyr_zaThu 31/07/08 14:57

quoting > "
I don't think it's unfair to ask that all women who take part in a female event are actually women"

I think they should only be tested if they suspect the person could be a man.

saturosThu 31/07/08 14:59

quoting > "I think they should only be tested if they suspect the person could be a man."

I'll take the test if you do sir?!

;)

saratiddyThu 31/07/08 15:13

quoting > "I think they should only be tested if they suspect the person could be a man."

I don't think the tests should be invasive, I agree with urine tests but NOT body examinations, external or internal that is wrong.

saturosThu 31/07/08 15:15

I don't think the tests should be invasive, I agree with urine tests but NOT body examinations, external or internal that is wrong.)q:saratiddy

I agree with you. It's violation!

But they can do it by urine. It's very possible.

saratiddyThu 31/07/08 15:15

quoting > "I was only kidding, sorry *head down*"

... It's ok Honey I knew you were only kidding, but I wanted to put my 'Cross' in before the 'Ticks' started to appear.

quoting > " if I had to go through all those tests. I rather just slap my bits on a table! "

... Do you do that for all tests you undertake, .......... my god you must have been a joy when you took your Driving Test!!!