Castrated

In the name of fairness and integrity, the International Olympic Committee is now emphatic about its gender policy, hopefully with empathy. Only biological women can compete in female categories at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. Probably beyond, barring future realignment of inclusivity policy and scientific evidence, although this defining policy appears to align with the executive order issued by a president with the least credibility on inclusivity.

He vows to deny visas to foreign athletes who attempt to defy his executive decree. This may have heavily factored in the gender policy shift, no less than the host country with the least hospitable president barks. Where before the IOC left the matter to individual sports governing bodies, now it restricts all sports in the Olympic calendar. Consistency, or better yet, universality.

Already, the growing and diversifying LGBTQIA+ community and advocacy groups adversely react to such transgender redaction, or better yet, reduction. It potentially discriminates, or better yet, marginalizes.

Athletes in the female category must undergo a one-time genetic screening to detect presence of Y chromosome material indicative of male sex development. This mandatory testing could be viewed self-incriminating, but it appears the best, if not the only way to determine gender equality, or better yet, equity. Experts assure it is the most accurate and least intrusive method there is. For now.

The right against self-incrimination may not be invoked, it applies only to testimonial compulsion. Just like writing by the hand, gender testing is mechanical. Per expert consensus, biological males are physiologically advantaged even if their testosterone level is suppressed. When nature dictates, humanity should abide, unless it can be reversed, or better yet, enhanced by nurture.

This controversy again brings to fore the tricky and sensitive debate about South African 800m runner Caster Semenya who, pardon the stereotype, looks and sounds like a man. She is born female but her testosterone levels are way higher than the female threshold. She is banned from competing against women after she refused to suppress her testosterone which level is believed responsible for her superiority over the distance. She won gold in the Olympics twice and in the worlds thrice, with uncanny speed and wide gap. No photo-finish. She finished the race before it even started.

Where does this new policy place people like Semenya? She is not misplaced, there should be a place for her and people like her. Where, trust science. It may change its position later, not because it erred before, but because it knew more, or better yet, better.