Olympics: Olympic Boxing

[Albatros]

Isn't the point the possibility of unfair/unsafe competition based on testosterone levels.

I would see that as a valid topic for further scientific research, and its impact on sporting rules only becomes relevant when conclusive scientific evidence exists.

In any case the starting point here would be high testosterone levels rather than individuals with DSD. Now the overarching discussion has fundamentally been about finding excuses for banning certain individual(s) suspected/accused of having a DSD (independent of their T levels) while entirely ignoring other, more common causes of high testosterone.

 

[Stylizer1]

I would see that as a valid topic for further scientific research, and its impact on sporting rules only becomes relevant when conclusive scientific evidence exists.

In any case the starting point here would be high testosterone levels rather than individuals with DSD. Now the overarching discussion has fundamentally been about finding excuses for banning certain individual(s) suspected/accused of having a DSD (independent of their T levels) while entirely ignoring other, more common causes of high testosterone.

Causes of high testosterone in women isn't new. They are factored into the acceptable levels women can have. It's the ones who exceed those is at issue here.

In a sport like boxing it has yet to be determined if athlete's who suffer from DSD's are at an advantage . They have already made distinctions on certain distances in track these athletes are not allowed to run in. Thy may in the future say which weight classes are acceptable too.

The 3 medalists from the Rio games for the 800m all had DSD's and were intersex.

 

[Albatros]

Causes of high testosterone in women isn't new. They are factored into the acceptable levels women can have. It's the ones who exceed those is at issue here.

In a sport like boxing it has yet to be determined if athlete's who suffer from DSD's are at an advantage . They have already made distinctions on certain distances in track these athletes are not allowed to run in. Thy may in the future say which weight classes are acceptable too.

The 3 medalists from the Rio games for the 800m all had DSD's and were intersex.

First it would have to be established scientifically that there indeed is a strong correlation between high testosterone levels and athletic excellence. Presuming that would be the case, next it would be necessary to determine what limits would be appropriate. Finally those limits would need to be applied without prejudice.

Focusing on a few DSD individuals achieving success is a solution looking for a problem and that can never be the appropriate course of action.

 

[Albatros]

I would find it quite problematic if some athletes are only allowed to compete if they are not successful. A bit like how women were excluded from skeet to their own separate competition as soon as Zhang Shan won gold at the Olympics. Celebrated by her competitors but misogynistic sports politics just couldn't take it.

 

[Albatros]

I wouldn't wish to see any segregation in sports that isn't justified by proven inherent advantages that are so significant they categorically deny others a chance of success. I don't like anything else about the equestrian competitions but at least they're not absurd enough to do that. And if we want more competitors surely that's possible without separate competitions as well. Regional quotas ensure that there's diversity beyond successful programs in individual countries. Boxing is already unusually fragmented not only to men and women, but separate weight classes as well. Both are justified, perhaps unfortunately, but if we want additionally different testosterone classes for example, the necessity really has to be demonstrated first.