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The Tricky Science of Olympic Gender Testing

Posted by samzenpus on from the if-it-walks-like-a-duck dept.

First time accepted submitter erdos-bacon sandwich writes "Gender tests may be the most controversial obstacle the athletes face. The London Games tries a new approach based on testosterone. Of all the obstacles athletes have had to overcome to compete in the Olympics, perhaps the most controversial has been the gender test. Originally designed to prevent men from competing in women's events, it is based on the premise that competitors can be sorted into two categories via established scientific rules. But the biological boundaries of gender aren't always clear."

3 of 559 comments (clear)

  1. How hard can it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    XX = Woman
    XY = Man

  2. Why seperate competions by gender anyway? by tempmpi · · Score: 0, Troll

    No matter how much I would train, I and 99.9% of the population wouldn't stand a chance at Olympia for genetic reasons. No matter if your genetics give you less than perfect endurance, reaction times or muscular strength, you will not get a medal at Olympia. People with genetics better suited for the discipline will get the medals. Nobody is going to hold a separate contest for people with less than optimal muscular strength or stuff like that. Even through white runners did not stand a chance against black runners, there is not going to be a olympia medal for the fastest non-black runner. Why should we make a difference for women? If they don't stand a chance against men, why should they get a medal?

    --
    Jan
  3. Re:Obfix: get rid of gender categories by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Change the groups to
    Female - Those who have birthed a child
    Male - Those who have not