What is Hyperandrogenism (HA) ? Is its application in sports justified?
It is a term used to describe the excessive production of androgenic hormones in females. The androgenic hormone of specific interest for the purposes of sports is the performance enhancing hormone, testosterone. Men typically achieve better performances in sport because they benefit from higher levels of androgens than women and this is predominantly why, for reasons of fairness, competition in Athletics is divided into separate men’s and women’s classifications.
By extension, since it is known today that there are rare cases of females with HA competing in women’s competitions, in order to be able to guarantee the fairness of such competitions for all female competitors, the new Regulations stipulate that no female with HA shall be eligible to compete in a women’s competition if she has functional androgen levels (testosterone) that are in the male range.
Moreover, from the athlete’s health perspective, there is a scientific consensus as regards the importance of determining the presence (and source) of high levels of androgens in females. The early diagnosis of HA is considered critical to an effective therapeutic strategy.
International Association of Athletics Federations(IAAF) has the role as the international governing body for the sport of Athletics to guarantee the fairness and integrity of the competitions that are organised under its Rules.(Read the Current Affairs Notes for 2016 Updates)
