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Caster Semenya And The Myth Of A Level Playing Field, Erin E. Buzuvis

Faculty Scholarship

In August of 2009, policies and procedures to verify the sex of female athletes were called into question when South African runner Caster Semenya
won the 800 meter event of the World Championships in Berlin. Responding to rumors of gender fraud, and fueled by Semenya’s speed, musculature, and deep voice, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) requested that Semenya submit to sex verification to confirm her eligibility for the women’s division.

This Article discusses the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) policy on sex testing, the myth of sex-verification testing, and the myth of the level playing field. It concludes with …