Finding a Y chromosome isn't that helpful where performance is concerned as it isn't just XY and XX out there and some chromosomal abnormalities can mean you are less susceptible to testosterone which can impact development.

There are people with genetically high red blood cell counts or lung capacity. Usain Bolt has a much higher percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibres (top sprinters tend to be 80-90% compared to the average of 50%). Are we going to test for those too?

Human biology is complicated and the more we know the less black and white it becomes. A crude genetic test isn't going to help with this.

[–] ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 30 points 5 days ago (2 children)

While broadly aimed at athletes who have changed their gender, World Athletics’s testing requirements would also affect small numbers of competitors who were born with atypical sex chromosomes.

But they aren't discriminating against men with chromosomal abnormalities? Why? Is it because they see men as inherently better and if you are the best you must be a real man?

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[–] Fleur_@hilariouschaos.com 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

As a short person I will not rest until tall people are banned from sports

[–] Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

Procrustes rule.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 25 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

You remember that high-profile win where a trans athlete beat all at-birth people of the same gender? Yeah. Despite the fear-mongering, it just doesn't happen...

[–] Kyle_The_G@lemmy.world 17 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

This is a pretty sad grey area. Trans athletes definitely need to be included in sports/competition but in sports like swimming, running and power lifting the men's qualifications are just in another league of their own, hormones and muscle mass really do make a massive difference and I have no idea what the solution is (its not DNA testing). I'd even go as far as saying that genetics on their own give some athletes a massive advantage over others in their sports (Eg XX females with naturally high testosterone, muscle mass ect...)

[–] Tarquinn2049@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago

The rules that already prevent competition until 2 years after transitioning already 100% cover any point in time where there would be any remnant of their time spent with different hormone levels. Basically, the problem was already solved decades ago, which is why there has never been an actual issue in practice.

[–] name_NULL111653@pawb.social 15 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It also heavily depends on what hormones if any the transgender woman is on. Monotherapy increases estrogen count well above cis female levels, and both monotherapy and via T blockers reduce testosterone so drastically that agab has absolutely no role in overall strength. I had moderate muscle mass and a very lean build before transitioning (from amateur climbing and track), and quickly lost all of that within four months on monotherapy even with regular gym attendance. My leg strength stayed about the same but overall build and gains are exactly on par with my cisgender peers now. The point being I'm not sure one can even argue that they could train on natural T before transitioning to gain an advantage, as maintaining that muscle mass is near impossible. And if policing hormonal levels becomes a thing if low-dosage is a concern, then many cisgender women would also be barred for competing due to naturally high testosterone.

[–] Kyle_The_G@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

Thats great insight, you're right I was exclusively thinking about my own experience as a cis male swimmer growing up. I hope things become more inclusive and more research is done on the topic.

[–] Delta_V@lemmy.world 12 points 5 days ago (3 children)

The results should be interesting. IIRC, 23andme had to stop sharing sex chromosome data after discovering just how many intersex people exist and how many people who thought they were cis women turned out to have Y chromosomes.

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[–] atro_city@fedia.io 12 points 5 days ago (44 children)

The Olympics have nothing to do with the original Olympics anymore, do they? They have skateboarding ffs. But trans is too far.

Actually, now I'm curious how they will handle cases of people with more than 2 chromosomes.

And, who runs these organisations? Are they under US influence?

[–] lnxtx@feddit.nl 9 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Which original Olympics? In nude? With OG disciplines?

To be honest, the classic disciplines are boring.
I liked skateboarding, breaking (breakdance).

Maybe we should be more unisex, add more shooting, chess, card games, e-sport, Formula E, etc.

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

add more shooting, chess, card games, e-sport, Formula E, etc.

I know it wouldn't be unheard of (art used to be a category) but I'd hate this so much because to me, the Olympics are a celebration of physical excellence.

[–] atro_city@fedia.io 4 points 5 days ago

Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, said on Wednesday that track and field’s governing body had agreed to introduce the testing to keep the “absolute focus on the integrity of competition”.

That's the point I was addressing. The Olympics have change a lot. If they want to talk about integrity, they've already lost.

Maybe we should be more unisex, add more shooting, chess, card games, e-sport, Formula E, etc.

This is why I don't watch the Olympics anymore. They are a parody of the original.

[–] abff08f4813c@j4vcdedmiokf56h3ho4t62mlku.srv.us 8 points 5 days ago

Actually, now I'm curious how they will handle cases of people with more than 2 chromosomes.

Me too. Actually, this is explicitly called out in the article,

World Athletics’s testing requirements would also affect small numbers of competitors who were born with atypical sex chromosomes.

But they don't say what would happen. The easy ones: presumably, XYY is treated the same as XY and XO is treated like XX. But how would XXY be handled? Or cases where we have genetic chimerism - e.g. some cells are XY and some are XO or XX. (One way this happens is if fraternal twins of different sex are in the womb, and then one absorbs the other.)

Intersexed folks at best seem to be an afterthought in this proposal.

If the tests are sensitive enough, someone with XY gonadal dysgenesis might be counted as XX as well, though I'm skeptical on this point. Actually, this is exactly why such tests are bad - someone who presents as female in virtually every public way, and would be seen as female in terms of sex under even many forms of medical examinations, could be treated as male under these rules and forced to compete against men.

It's the exact opposite of what the anti-trans folks say that they want to accomplish - protecting women from male athletes.

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[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

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