SAI confirms Dutee’s hyperandrogenism

July 17, 2014 03:53 am | Updated 03:53 am IST - NEW DELHI:

After days of uncertainty and speculation, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday officially confirmed that sprinter Dutee Chand would be unable to participate as a female athlete in competitions.

Several media reports had claimed that SAI had conducted gender-verification tests, pending results of which the 18-year-old’s name was excluded from the final contingent for the Commonwealth Games. The SAI, however, clarified in its statement that gender verification was banned under international rules.

“SAI has conducted this test following regulations set by international sports organisations like the IAAF and the IOC for governing eligibility of females with hyperandrogenism. This test does not determine the athlete’s gender. IOC and the IAAF have banned gender-verification tests. We are simply trying to find out if the athlete has excess androgen in her body,” SAI’s statement said.

“If the test results say she is ineligible to compete in the women’s competition, that indicates she has excess androgen than what is specified by the medical commission of the IAAF or by the medical board which helped create the ‘Standard Operative Procedure to identify circumstances (female hyperandrogenism) in which a particular sportsperson will not be eligible to participate in competition in the female category’ in India,” it added.

While not explaining in detail the results of tests on the Odisha athlete, SAI admitted that she would not be allowed to participate in the female category for the time being.

“Yes, we have conducted such a test. For confidentiality protocol, the name cannot be disclosed. The athlete will still be able to compete in the female category in future if she takes proper medical help and lowers her androgen level to the specified range.

“We reiterate that these test results do not determine her gender. The test simply tells us that she has excess androgen in her body and is therefore not eligible to compete in the female category,” SAI said.

The result means Dutee will not be able to participate in either the Asian Games or the world junior championships later this year.

She had qualified for the Commonwealth Games after winning the 200m and the 4x100m relay at the national championships recently.

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