In 2006, Santhi Soundarajan was stripped of her medal for failing a now-defunct gender verification test. But the real shame was that the Indian mid-distance runner, a gold medallist at the Asiad, was deserted by everyone, winding up as a brick-kiln worker. Eight years on, Dutee Chand, India’s most promising sprinter, has been tested for hyperandrogenism even before her international career takes off. However, there is a perceptible change in how the case is being viewed. India is showing small yet positive signs of supporting female athletes who display gender ambiguity.
For a start, and despite pervasive ignorance on the matter, there is a consensus that hyperandrogenism is not the same as dope cheating — though both can display high levels of testosterone. Athletes caught in the former controversy require that officials and society evolve their own comprehension of a complex issue. These athletes need sensitivity, not sniggers. When such cases are detected, it is the duty of the highest officials in athletics to protect the young sportswomen — who themselves might not understand complex testing — rather than leave them to fend for themselves. Counselling would be a good point to begin at. Early hormonal therapy and remedial procedures are available as corrective measures, and this can also help maintain the dignity of the athlete.
