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Indian sprinter Dutee Chand appeals against ban for failing ‘gender test’ Indian sprinter Dutee Chand appeals against ban for failing ‘gender test’
(35 minutes later)
The teenage Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against her indefinite ban from competition, imposed after she failed a controversial “gender test”. The teenage Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has appealed to the court of arbitration for sport against her indefinite ban from competition, imposed after she failed a controversial “gender test”.
Chand, 18, was forced to miss the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after the ruling, which disqualifies her from taking part in women’s competitons due to her elevated testosterone levels. Chand, 18, was forced to miss the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after the ruling, which disqualifies her from taking part in women’s competitions due to her elevated testosterone levels.
However, campaigners have attacked the testing as unscientific and discriminatory, protesting that her raised levels are an entirely natural result of the condition hyperandrogenism.However, campaigners have attacked the testing as unscientific and discriminatory, protesting that her raised levels are an entirely natural result of the condition hyperandrogenism.
Chand’s appeal is the first to challenge the rules introduced by the International Association of Athletics Federations following the controversy around the treatment of South Africa’s Caster Semenya in 2009.Chand’s appeal is the first to challenge the rules introduced by the International Association of Athletics Federations following the controversy around the treatment of South Africa’s Caster Semenya in 2009.
Quoted in the New York Times, Chand said she would not bow to pressure from coaches to undergo treatment to change the testosterone level in her body.Quoted in the New York Times, Chand said she would not bow to pressure from coaches to undergo treatment to change the testosterone level in her body.
“I feel it is wrong to change your body for sport participation. I’m not changing for anyone. It is like in some societies where they used to cut off the hand of people caught stealing. I feel like this is the same kind of primitive, unethical rule. It goes too far.“I feel it is wrong to change your body for sport participation. I’m not changing for anyone. It is like in some societies where they used to cut off the hand of people caught stealing. I feel like this is the same kind of primitive, unethical rule. It goes too far.
“I cried for three straight days after reading what people were saying about me [online]. They were saying, ‘Dutee: Boy or girl?’ and I thought, how can you say those things? I have always been a girl.”“I cried for three straight days after reading what people were saying about me [online]. They were saying, ‘Dutee: Boy or girl?’ and I thought, how can you say those things? I have always been a girl.”
Chand’s case has prompted experts to claim that the IAAF’s process is flawed, with her advisor Dr Payoshni Mitra telling the newspaper that the rules were having a widespread impact on women.Chand’s case has prompted experts to claim that the IAAF’s process is flawed, with her advisor Dr Payoshni Mitra telling the newspaper that the rules were having a widespread impact on women.
“The sports officials who make these rules have no idea who they are stopping from competing,” said Mitra. “Many of these women are providing for their families. Sports gave them so much, so many opportunities.”“The sports officials who make these rules have no idea who they are stopping from competing,” said Mitra. “Many of these women are providing for their families. Sports gave them so much, so many opportunities.”
Chand, who will remain unable to compete until the case is resolved, said the experience had undermined what had drawn her to becoming an athlete in the first place. Chand, who will remain unable to compete until the case is resolved, said the experience had undermined what had drawn her to becoming an athlete in the first place. “When girls play a sport, they are treated equally, so society becomes more equal. I really liked that.”
“When girls play a sport, they are treated equally, so society becomes more equal. I really liked that.”