The Student Room Group

Athletics bosses target Caster Semenya

From the 1st November this year, female athletes will be facing some new rules. There are a few things to note.

First is that this doesn't apply to all events, only to the running events between 400m and 1 mile. Surprised that it is only these distances where the male hormone testosterone gives a significant advantage? You are right, testosterone gives a significant advantage in all athletics events, check the records. However, these are the distances that Caster Semenya specialises in. Why the focus on only these events?

Second is that athletes with too high levels of testosterone for the women's events (5 nanomoles per litre of blood, if I am reading the units correctly) are permitted to take part in the men's events, even if they actually exceed the normal range for men's testosterone as well which they state as possible. This leads to the question, why isn't there a maximum testosterone level for the men's events as well? If you're going to boot out a woman with a specific natural genetic advantage (not including height, type of muscle fibres, funding, injuries etc) from women's events at some arbitrary level, why isn't there one for men as well?
Transexuals like Semenya should not be allowed to compete alongside women.
Reply 2
surely if someone is born with a penis then they should't be allowed to compete as a woman period

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