Yes!! This is another proof of the narrow mindedness of Indian Sports Authorities. As per the new diktat by Weightlifting Federation of India, all the women weightlifters have to go through a gender determination test.In effect, female weightlifters undergo a lot more than a medical examination at national camps. After the basic evaluation by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) doctors, they are asked to take the gender test and procure a feminity certificate, it is learnt.
Normally, these tests are done at private clinics and the tags comprising chromosomal details and a confirmation of their gender are given with the assurance that they are for a lifetime.
It's humiliating, but the federation is unperturbed by the criticism. In the junior camp which began here a couple of weeks back, SAI doctors were openly asked whether they would be able to conduct gender tests and issue feminity cards. A firm refusal had the coaches either shelving the idea for the moment or plan similar tests in a private hospital at a later date.
Ever since the Santhi Sounderrajan episode at the 2006 Asian Games, awareness about gender tests has increased.
Weightlifter Monika Devi was asked to take the Buccal Smear - a test where cells taken from the tongue are evaluated for the presence of Barr bodies, a mass seen in a normal female sex chromosome.
Mandatory sex-verification tests are not part of swimming and athletics - two other sports which depend on power, speed and endurance like weightlifting. But even in those sports, with doping being rampant, secondary sex characteristics after prolonged use of drugs can lead to doubts and thus tests.
[source]
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