Beyond the Caster Semenya Controversy: The Case of the Use of Genetics for Gender Testing in Sport |
| |
| Authors: | Ambroise Wonkam Karen Fieggen Raj Ramesar |
| |
| Institution: | 1.Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Cape Town,Cape Town,South Africa;2.Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences-University of Yaoundé I,Yaoundé,Cameroon;3.MRC/UCT Human Genetics Research Unit, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Cape Town,Cape Town,South Africa;4.Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Cape Town, South Africa,Cape Town,South Africa |
| |
| Abstract: | Caster Semenya won the eight-hundred-meter title in the Berlin World Athletics Championships in 2009. Few hours after, Caster
was at the center of a harsh contestation on gender. The International Association of Athletics Federations started an investigation,
which was not respectful of her privacy. Caster’s case highlights the need for an improvement in the awareness of genetic
counseling principles amongst professionals, the public and various stakeholders. We critically examine the historical steps
of gender verification in the Olympics, the violation of genetic counseling principles in Caster’s case and outline some reflections
on the complexity of the genetics of Disorders of sex development (DSD). Variability in both genotypes and phenotypes in DSD
may not allow any etiological or functional classification at this point in time that could permit uncontroversial gender
verification for fairer sport participation. We strongly suggest revisiting the pertinence of gender verification, and the
process whereby this is done. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
