Why We Can’t Define Sex Through Testosterone
How Caster Semenya’s case leads to broader consequences for sex identification and the participation of transgender athletes in sports
Sex is the first label we are given at birth, if not before, when an inspection of our genitalia determines whether we’re identified by one checkbox or another. While the likelihood of ambiguity is small, it does happen; the Intersex Society of North America says that 1 in 1,500 to 1 in 2,000 births needs a sex differentiation specialist to be called in.
Some countries are moving toward acceptance of non-binary sex, such as Germany, which introduced legislation in 2013 that allowed parents to assign neutral sex to a newborn with both female and male characteristics. Yet this inclusivity is far from reflected in every area of society. The latest example comes from the world of sports.
Athletes with Differences of Sex Development (DSDs, or intersex athletes) are now required to take medication to lower their naturally high levels of testosterone, according to a rule passed on May 8th, 2019, by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF). To compete in events from the 400-meters to the mile, for instance, runners must have testosterone at no more than 5 nmol/L (nanomoles per liter of…
