URGENT CALL-TO-ACTION | World Athletics: Launch Independent Review into Female Eligibility Criteria
Updated: Aug 27, 2021
The international equality-in-sport charity, equitysport call for the immediate suspension of World Athletics female eligibility regulations pending a fully independent review into their scientific basis.
With thanks to Roger Pielke Jr. for assistance in developing this open letter.
World Athletics HQ
6-8 Quai Antoine 1er
Monaco Port Hercules
Dear The Right Honourable the Lord Coe CH KBE,
On Tuesday 17th August, 2021, the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) published a correction to the 2017 research paper which underpins the World Athletics eligibility regulations for female athletes.
The regulations, which came into force in 2018, only apply to women with particular variations in sex characteristics - referred by the governing body as DSD (Differences of Sexual Development), and require certain athletes to reduce their blood testosterone to a level specified by World Athletics.
These regulations have come under significant scrutiny for their impact on athletes' rights to non-discrimination, as well as the continued use of a single biological marker for determining sex.
The original 2017 paper argued a causal relationship between testosterone levels and athletic performance among women, but just for certain events. This happened to include events run by Caster Semenya, the South African runner targeted by the regulations, and more recently Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi of Namibia.
We, at equitysport, have long held a position that these regulations and the requirement for particular athletes to engage in medically unnecessary interventions deny certain women an equal right to participate in sport. Our position fully supports the position of the United Nations Human Rights Council that the current sex-testing apparatus and criteria set by World Athletics and the IOC risk violating a number of human rights.
In the BJSM correction published on 17th August, World Athletics now admits that its claims to the scientific basis for the regulations, i.e. for the causal relationship between testosterone levels and athletic performance among female athletes in the restricted events, was incorrect.
"To be explicit, there is no confirmatory evidence for causality in the observed relationships reported. . . With this in mind, we recognise that statements in the paper could have been misleading by implying a causal inference."
World Athletics, for its part in the correction, has called for an independent scientific review to "establish confirmatory scientific evidence for the causal relationship between the variables analysed."
Without confirmatory scientific evidence, there is no justification for the continued application of the World Athletics female eligibility regulations and we, the undersigned, call for the following steps to be actioned immediately by World Athletics:
1. An immediate independent review of the scientific claims found within the World Athletics DSD regulations should be undertaken by an authoritative organisation completely independent to World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee.
2. While such a review is taking place, the World Athletics female eligibility regulations should be suspended, with immediate effect.
3. The full results of the independent review must be made public at the earliest opportunity.
Yours sincerely,
equitysport
To sign as a representative of an organisation, group or institution, please email campaigns@equitysport.org
Co-signatories (updated regularly):
Bruce Nadin
Caradh O'Donovan
Felix Masigwa
Vinod Butola
W.E Jongsma
Fidelis Wambui
Sophia Nimphius
Tanweer Ahmad
Gary James Hughes
Abu Guot
Ajok Docus
A K English
Akello Magret
Akoth E
Alex Sang
Amy Cook
Anant Trivedi
Andrew Koock
Angela Allibone
Atal Stella
Avice Meya
Barbara Pires
Bernadette Jennings
Bram Brouwer Ph.D.
Brenda Sarah
Brian Mureri
Brij Pal Singh
Carly Alakija
Castro Uulumbu
Chaps Chiccollatta
Charlene Hogg
Cheryl Smith
Chris Kama
Christine Simpkin
Corey Nicholls
David Dungate
Dr Lombe Mwambwa
Dumisani Chauke
Eko Dydda
Elma Kemp
Esther Maina
Ewurama Kakraba
Fancy Nyanchama
Hadija Namanda
Heather Westall
Heather Cooper
Hiire Isaac
Ian Ladbrooke
Jagroop Singh
James Mendes
James Taylor
Jan de Groot
Joyce Juma
Kahuru Mwangi
Kelly Humphries
Kenneth Johnson
Laura Burrows
Liam Elphick
Lindiwe Khumalo
Lisa A Kihl
Lucy Mwende
Maggíe
Mankwe Semenya
Marissa Langeni
Mark Bobbitt
Mark Mnang'At Psinen
Maximila Imali
Melissa Awu
Michael Francis Bazzant
Mj Bassong
Moraa Faith
Muditambi Ravele
Mugo Kevin
Mwatilange Vaeta
Nana Adom-Aboagye
Navies Mageto Migosi
Neha Gupta
Nonhlanhla
Nshuti Richard Rubangura
Odiya
Omega
Pauline Muhonja
Pearl Shipalana
Peta Spyrou
Pete Lanard
Piotr Rawinski
Prabhjot Singh
Pramod Prafulchand
Raj
Reuben Okutoi Indimuli
Robert Theuri
Robyn Smith
Roisin Mccallion
Rosalind Brian
Sanchari Sarkar
Silas Ekoine
Siyabulela Loyilane
Sonia Hurley
Thembi
Tim Harper
Tineke Schokker-Strampel
Udit Handa
Velly Moutloali
Wieger Guldemond
Wilfred Kigen
equitysport is a UK-registered charity (1189559) that exists to advance and promote equality, diversity and equal opportunity in and through global sport. Through free-form development, education programmes and targeted advocacy the charity seeks an inclusive and equitable sporting ecosystem that lives up to the true values of sport.
Notes to Editors
For interviews or further comment from equitysport, please contact the team via: hello@equitysport.org