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Moya Lothian-McLean
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This week, champion runner Caster Semenya lost her appeal against World Athletics regulations which prohibit women athletes from competing if they have high testosterone levels.
The court ruled that Semenya – who has won the 800m twice in successive Olympic games – would have to take hormone suppressing drugs if she wanted to compete in future races.
The ruling has been greeted with controversy by many who have pointed out that Semenya’s naturally occurring higher levels of testosterone is similar to biological traits that other athletes are celebrated for, like Michael Phelps’ lower levels of lactic acid.
Michael Phelps' body produces half the lactic acid of his average competitors, meaning he can push himself to athle… https://t.co/3peoeXBkr4— Eleanor Penny (@Eleanor Penny) 1599654526
And Semenya’s plight has also rallied her fellow athletes.
Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, has spoken up in support of Semenya, calling the decision of World Athletics “men having control of women’s bodies”.
this is wrong on so many levels.. once again men having control over womens bodies 🙄 I’m tired https://t.co/eodz4SBk8x— Simone Biles (@Simone Biles) 1599771521
Biles also replied to a troll who wrote “XY = a male” underneath her initial tweet, seemingly in reference to Semenya’s intersex condition.
closeminded & ignorant = an asshole. https://t.co/s5lXo7duQQ— Simone Biles (@Simone Biles) 1599772621
Biles was applauded for her support of Semenya by others who expressed similar anger at the ruling.
So biological female has naturally high testosterone (note women have testosterone levels because we produce this h… https://t.co/QtjPnh1Skx— Janine Goodwin (@Janine Goodwin) 1599791805
And she was thanked for taking a stand.
@Simone_Biles Simone you are a leader & role model I can’t express how glad & grateful I am to read this from you i… https://t.co/AY9hQOdgvs— PJ Vazel (@PJ Vazel) 1599774154
When will women stop having their womanhood defined by others?
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