Response to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s report on race and gender discrimination in sport : an expression of concern and a call to prioritise research

Abstract

Caster Semenya recently lost her appeal against the restriction of blood testosterone levels in female athletes set by World Athletics, requiring female athletes with “Disorders of Sex Development” (DSD) to reduce their blood testosterone concentrations to < 5 nmol/L for a period of at least six months, and then must maintain this lower blood testosterone continuously if they wish to remain eligible for events between 400 and 1500 m. This outcome opposes resolution 40/5, on race and gender discrimination in sport published by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) which calls for the regulations to be revoked [4]. The UNHRC and World Medical Association argue that World Athletics regulation denies DSD women the right to participate in certain events unless they accept “unnecessary medical intervention”, and that athletes are being coerced into such treatment.