IAAF Issues New Eligibility Rule for Female Athletes with Hyperandrogenism

The International Athletic Association Federation, the international federation responsible for overseeing international track competitions, has issued a rule regarding females with hyperandrogenism for athletes wishing to compete in women’s competitions.

The rule is the result of a review process that has taken the IAAF 18 months to complete. The catalyst for the review was the dispute over South Africa’s Caster Semenya’s gender following her gold medal finish in the 800m at the 2009 World Championships held in Berlin. Semenya beat her closest opponent in that race by over two seconds.

Caster refrained from participating in international competition for 11 months while the IAAF determined her eligibility. She returned in July 2010. The medical details of the review of her eligibility have remained confidential.

Hyperandrogenism is a condition which results in the excessive production of androgens (testosterone). The IAAF has indicated a female athlete may compete if her androgen level remains below the male range. Or, if a female athlete with androgens in the male range has an androgen resistance she may also compete. International medical experts, independent of the IAAF, have been appointed to assess cases referred to them.

The rule is set to take effect on May 1. Any athlete refusing to participate in the eligibility determination process will be denied eligibility. The newly adopted rule and eligibility determination process will be implemented for the first time at the IAAF World Championships scheduled to be on August 27 in Daegu, Korea.

WADA Director’s proposal to eliminate “B” sample testing should be rejected

WADA Director David Howman this week suggested that the anti-doping testing procedure should be fundamentally changed by eliminating the testing of “B” samples.

Under the current system, an athlete’s urine sample is divided equally into an “A” sample and a “B” sample when tested by a doping control officer. Both the “A” and “B” must test positive in a WADA approved lab for an athlete to be charged with an anti-doping violation.

Under Mr. Howman’s proposal, the “B” sample would be eliminated to “save time and money.”

His proposal would remove an important safeguard for those whose livelihood hangs in the balance each time they are tested. There have been many occasions where an athlete’s “A” sample has tested positive, but the “B” sample has been negative and they have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

The elimination of “B” sample testing would be a bad decision all around. It should be rejected.