Gender again. Sorry!

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AuroraSaab

Pharaoh
They have almost exclusively decided to continue competing in the Women's category, which kind of gives lie to the idea that people must be allowed to compete in their chosen category for their mental health or because they aren't accepted by fellow athletes.
 
swabbing kids is impractical for a variety of reasons
In an ideal world it could practically be very easy; you swab everyone so no-one feels targeted. But the first issue would be cost, I don't see any money invested in youth sport in my area, not even for football. My sons last football club had to hold a raffle to raise £54 for a practice net. So I can't see much money being ring fenced for swab testing.

Secondly, there are ethical issues which probably haven't been fully explored. Like the (wildly unlikely) scenario where a child is swabbed, found to be x or y gender which they weren't aware of. Things like this no matter how improbable, are usually what prevent it from being done. The only real world experience I'm drawing from is clinical trials. They can do pregnancy tests on females as part of the inclusion criteria, but have never done biological sex tests. If they can't do it in a highly regulated clinical trial environment, I can't see them doing it in a field by a stranger from the IOC. I imagine there would also be IG issues around where and how the data (results) would be stored, who has access to them, how the info is communicated etc etc
 

CXRAndy

Epic Member
The liklihood of a child in the UK being mis-sexed is extremely remote. Its third world country's that have less stringent follow up diagnosis.

For the benefit of all girls, it should be implemented widely. It will only take a couple of years, before TiB and TiM will no longer attempt to try play in girls and women's sports.

All sporting bodies will adopt sex based competition in their rules

A bloke is taking his case to the high court, he will set the precedent for all UK sports when he loses

I see it more as a stepping stone to normality in sports.

For elite level sports, it will be necessary for countries trying to cheat the system.
 

icowden

Pharaoh
In an ideal world it could practically be very easy; you swab everyone so no-one feels targeted. But the first issue would be cost, I don't see any money invested in youth sport in my area, not even for football. My sons last football club had to hold a raffle to raise £54 for a practice net. So I can't see much money being ring fenced for swab testing.
But no-one has suggested doing this. It only becomes necessary once you are at elite level.
 

AuroraSaab

Pharaoh
Most sports organisations test for doping once athletes compete at national level. This involves an official watching you pee - they literally have to see the urine leave your body.
Nobody complains that this is invasive. We know it's necessary to ensure fairness.

If they can find time and money for that they can find it for a once-in-a-career check swab test.

If my child had a dsd that had gone undiagnosed (unlikely in the UK) I would rather know at 14/15, even if through sports testing, than it continue to go undiagnosed.
 

AndyRM

Elder Goth
But no-one has suggested doing this. It only becomes necessary once you are at elite level.

It's been a suggestion on this thread, as little as one page ago.

I thought that @Electric_Andy's response was well thought out and reasoned.

I fully agree that elite level is a game changer, but all levels? And how far do you go back?

It's a rabbit hole.
 

CXRAndy

Epic Member
I fully agree that elite level is a game changer, but all levels? And how far do you go back?

If children (through their parents insistence) try and play in the wrong group.

Then either a polite, what sex is your child, we can test for you can be implemented.

Like I say it's a stepping stone, a few years from now, all this nonsense will be gone
 

AndyRM

Elder Goth
If children (through their parents insistence) try and play in the wrong group.

Then either a polite, what sex is your child, we can test for you can be implemented.

Like I say it's a stepping stone, a few years from now, all this nonsense will be gone

That's not how it works.

A "polite" request costs clubs like ours hundreds.

We don't have that kind of money.

I'm glad we've taken a proper tilt towards children in sport, and I hope you understand where I'm coming from.
 

AuroraSaab

Pharaoh
What do you do if a child signs up to play in the under 12's rugby and very obviously looks like a 16 year old? ie height, size, features. Do you take it on trust that they are 11 because the parents say so?
 

AndyRM

Elder Goth
What do you do if a child signs up to play in the under 12's rugby and very obviously looks like a 16 year old? ie height, size, features. Do you take it on trust that they are 11 because the parents say so?

As I said a couple pages back, I can only speak for the clubs I'm involved with. We move children around appropriately.

I have a duty of care to the kids I coach which I take seriously.

Like I said, I'm aware other clubs don't, which is to their detriment.
 
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