The athlete Caster Semenya is at the heart of the news due to his hyper-androgyny. The South African will have to take hormonal treatment to compete in her favorite distance, the 800m. But why this decision and what is hyperandrogenism?
Swiss justice has ruled. Caster Semenya, who has too high a natural testosterone level (according to the International Athletics Federation which in April 2018 defined a maximum testosterone threshold to compete with women.), Will have to take hormonal treatment to participate in the women's distances ranging from 400 meters to mile (1609 m). The athlete thus lost his appeal against the regulations of World Atheltics (ex-IAAF).
"I am very disappointed with this stop, but I refuse to let World Athletics drug me or prevent me from being who I am. (…) for the human rights of women athletes, on and off the track, until we can run as free as we were born"Caster Semenya said in a statement relayed by RTBF.
For many years, the sportswoman has fought against the discordant voices on her physical appearance and her voice, considered too "masculine".
For the Swiss Supreme Court, this decision relates to "fairness of competitions " as "cardinal principle of sport ". A testosterone level like that of men would confer to female athletes "an insurmountable advantage ", remember RFI.
The World Medical Association (WMA) pointed out in 2019 "that it is widely accepted that it is unethical to prescribe treatment for hyperandrogenism if this condition is not recognized as pathological. " Even the UN Human Rights Council had disapproved of World Athletics regulations, Liberation said.
What is hyperandrogenism?
Hyperandrogenism is "an excess of androgen circulating in the blood. Androgens are male hormones mainly represented by testosterone. In women, they are normally produced by the ovaries and adrenals in small quantities. A hormonal assessment with dosage. androgens help confirm the diagnosis and clarify the cause. ", explains the Obstetrics and Gynecological Surgery Center on its site.
In practice, women have lower androgen levels than men. But some women, for various reasons, can produce too many male hormones.
This data is quite common, but in a moderate way, and very often associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects approximately one in 10 women. Hyperandrogenism can lead to acne, heavy hair growth and hair loss. , according to Top Health. In more rare cases, this variation may be linked to a genetic disease.
According to Professor Jacques Young, endocrinologist at the Bicêtre Hospital in Paris, interviewed by Femme Actuelle, "for To treat severe hyperandrogenism, you must first treat the disease that causes it. If the problem persists, then the symptoms can be relieved with hormone therapy. "