Recent news has drawn attention to a controversial boxing match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Algerian boxer Imane Khelif (not pictured) defeated Italy’s Angela Carini in just 46 seconds. The match ended abruptly when Carini withdrew after being struck hard by Khelif, raising questions about the fairness of the competition.
This incident has ignited a broader debate about gender eligibility in sports. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced concerns, suggesting that athletes with male genetic characteristics should not compete in women’s categories to ensure fair competition. This perspective reflects ongoing discussions about how to define gender in sports.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) has established that female competitors are defined as individuals with XX chromosomes. This definition was formalized in a document effective May 13, 2023, and allows for random or targeted gender testing to confirm eligibility for competition. However, this approach has faced criticism, particularly after the disqualification of Khelif and another athlete from the 2023 Women’s World Championships. Both were found to have XY chromosomes, “typically associated with male athletes,” leading to accusations of unfairness.
The IBA’s actions have drawn scrutiny from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has expressed concerns about the fairness and processes behind these gender testing decisions. Critics argue that the strict adherence to the XX chromosome definition may exclude athletes who identify as female but do not meet this criterion due to medical conditions, such as differences in sex development (DSD). Individuals with DSD may be assigned female at birth but possess XY chromosomes or other atypical chromosomal patterns, complicating the discussion about gender in sports.
On March 24, 2023, the IBA disqualified athletes Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, citing their failure to meet eligibility criteria outlined in the IBA Regulations. This decision was made to uphold fairness and integrity in competition. Notably, the athletes did not undergo testosterone examinations but were subject to a separate, confidential test that indicated they had competitive advantages over other female competitors.
Despite these disqualifications, both Khelif and Lin have been cleared to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics, as the IOC does not recognize the IBA’s actions. This decision has elicited mixed reactions, especially following Khelif’s rapid victory, which has led to public scrutiny and accusations regarding her biological sex.
The segregation of genders in Olympic events is often justified by the belief that physiological differences necessitate separate competitions for fairness. Men typically have greater muscle mass and cardiovascular capacity due to higher testosterone levels, providing advantages in strength and endurance sports. Conversely, women often demonstrate greater flexibility and endurance in specific contexts.
A key question arises: If a female athlete receives the same testosterone levels as a male, can she achieve equivalent muscle mass and physical strength? Even with increased testosterone, women may not reach the same levels of muscle mass or strength as men due to inherent physiological differences, such as muscle fiber composition and hormonal interactions. Men generally have a higher proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are more conducive to strength and power activities.
As the conversation around gender in sports continues to evolve, it is clear that finding a balance between fairness and inclusivity remains a complex challenge.
When ChatGPT says, “Most males have XY chromosomes” I feel like I’ve stepped into the Twilight Zone. What is this, gender gaslighting? All males, by the standard definition of the word, have XY chromosomes. To me, redefining a fundamental thing like male makes as little sense as redefining a scientific term like “chromosomes” to include salt, and very small rocks. The XY chromosomal configuration is a defining characteristic of male biological sex in humans and many other species.
In a follow up ChatGPT where I told it, “None of your examples is a male without XY,” it said: “You are correct in pointing out that the standard definition of male in humans involves XY chromosomes. The use of qualifiers like “most” in scientific communication is often meant to acknowledge rare exceptions or variations, but in this specific context, it could indeed be misleading.” There is a genetic example it could have fought back on but didn’t. We will get to that in our rare exceptions section below.
Yes, there are genetic variants, such as syndromes where people can have with XXY and XYY chromosomes. Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs in males who have an extra X chromosome, resulting in a chromosomal pattern of XXY instead of the typical XY. Males with Klinefelter syndrome commonly have weaker muscles and reduced physical strength compared to their peers. Interestingly, there is also an XYY syndrome which occurs when a male has an extra Y chromosome, resulting in a chromosomal pattern of XYY. This condition is less common than Klinefelter syndrome. While typically taller, research shows that XYY males tend to also have weaker muscle tone (hypotonia) compared to typical males.
Presence of Y Chromosome = Male: The presence of a Y chromosome, regardless of the number of X chromosomes, indicates male biological sex. This includes conditions like:
- XY: Typical male configuration.
- XXY: Klinefelter syndrome, where the individual is still considered male due to the presence of the Y chromosome.
- XYY: XYY syndrome, where the individual is also classified as male.
Lack of Y Chromosome = Female: The lack of a Y chromosome, regardless of the number of X chromosomes, indicates female biological sex.
- XO: Turner syndrome (XO, where there is only one X chromosome and no Y chromosome). A genetic condition that affects females, characterized by the complete or partial absence of one of the two X chromosomes. This does not ” complicate traditional definitions of male and female.” as Turner syndrome women do not have the biology of males. While Turner syndrome involves the absence of one X chromosome, it is important to understand that individuals with Turner syndrome are biologically female. They typically have female reproductive anatomy, though it may be underdeveloped. This biological aspect aligns with traditional definitions of female, as they possess characteristics associated with the female sex, albeit with some differences.
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH): This condition affects the adrenal glands, leading to an excess of androgens in XX individuals, which can result in ambiguous genitalia at birth.
Rare Exceptions
Simple right? But what about AIS? What, you haven’t heard of it? Many haven’t and perhaps everyone should know more about this rare condition, because it might make certain political views at least more comprehensible.
What About Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)?
Individuals with AIS have XY chromosomes but their bodies cannot respond to androgens.[6] This can result in female external genitalia despite having testes internally. There are three forms: Complete AIS (CAIS) and Partial AIS (PAIS), with CAIS resulting in fully female physical traits and PAIS leading to ambiguous genitalia. There is also Mild Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (MAIS). MAIS involves mild resistance to androgens, leading to predominantly male characteristics but often with some degree of feminization, such as breast development during puberty. Individuals with MAIS are typically infertile and may have other variations in sexual development. The Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) classifies androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) and its subtypes as “rare disease,” which signifies that it affects less than 20,000 people in the US population (20,000 in 341,814,420 is about
And don’t forget XX male Syndrome
Here’s a real situation where part of the Y chromosome responsible for male attributes attaches an X chromosome. This would technically be a non-XY male, but the Y (or part of it) is still really there, hiding in one X chromosome.
- XX male syndrome: This rare condition results from the SRY gene (typically found on the Y chromosome) being translocated to an X chromosome. Despite having XX chromosomes, these individuals develop as males due to the presence of the SRY gene. They are considered males with a disorder of sex development.
As you can see, the biological truth is a bit more complicated, but not very commonly so. Nevertheless, accommodations for real biological differences which exist in our population are something we are are still, as a society, coming to grips with. We are still developing appropriate accommodations for biological differences, striving (and it seems still failing) to create an equitable environment for all athletes.
Read More
[1] https://www.3wiresports.com/articles/2024/8/3/0d4ucn50bmvbndhhqjohaneccoqueq
[2] https://www.nbcnewyork.com/paris-2024-summer-olympics/olympics-boxing-imane-khalif-xy-chromosome-italian-boxer-quit/5662035/
[3] https://abc7.com/post/olympic-boxer-imane-khelifs-gender-center-ioc-iba-controversy/15137823/
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5678780/2024/08/04/olympic-boxing-gender-controversy/
[5] https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/03/imane-khelif-is-just-the-latest-case-of-female-athletes-being-questioned-over-their-sex/
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542206/
