I tweeted a couple of times on the Olympics issue but figured a comment was more effective.

I follow Track & Field fairly well, was a Division I college participant, am familiar with the USATF and IAAF (National and International governing bodies for Track & Field) testing procedures and rules.

The Olympics isn’t “testing” all the women to see that they’re women. ALL the athletes are tested year around for testosterone and other substances, in order to verify that they’re not using performance enhancing drugs. In fact both Men and Women are both tested for Estrogen as well, as (in men especially) in can be a sign that you’re using drugs.

A couple of additional points

1) Female testosterone at the higher or above average range, is still a fraction of a man’s at the low end (let alone an Olympic Athlete). This rule would be for women who have near male levels.

2) The rule was created for the Caster Semenya case, she is an intersexed Track Athlete and doesn’t have Ovaries and instead has internal Testes that produce large amounts of testosterone. For the record she’s allowed to compete.

3) Both Male and Female athletes take testosterone as a performance enhancing drug (it’s the most common one, and the hardest to detect if you game the system)

4) There is a HUGE gap between male and female performances, so much so that Men who aren’t even National Class athletes could declare themselves women and dominate the women’s ranks. A 10.5 100m sprinter isn’t really remarkable at the high school level, good, but not one of the best in the nation for high schoolers.

He could declare himself trans and dominate the women’s races.

This leaves the IOC with an issue.

If they respect all gender declarations, they open the door for unfair competition “I’ll just race the girls” or allow people to cheat “Yes my testosterone was high, but it’s my natural level, don’t invade my privacy with more tests”

In the end the rule was created for one athlete who is allowed to compete (and will probably win Gold), despite the fact that her testosterone levels would get other athletes banned for cheating.

I’m not saying it’s perfect, but the goal isn’t discrimination it’s to keep women whose muscularity is more male than female from competing against women who don’t have a chance.

It’s important to remember that it’s not men who pushed for rules like this, or are concerned about this for women’s sports. It’s other WOMEN.

Finally, why aren’t men tested to prove they’re men? Because they wouldn’t be in the competition in the first place. Men who need testosterone supplementation, have high estrogen, etc, have trouble maintaining the muscle strength, energy, et al to compete.

The key is that all of this testing centers around testosterone, having more is an advantage, having less is a disadvantage and it’s a common PED.

The rule isn’t perfect, but it’s the best we have and it’s probably better to suggest a better alternative than calling it discrimination.

Especially since women are the ones who complained about Caster, not men, and women are the ones most concerned about intersexed athletes.

Still, considering that in all likelihood no one will fall under the rule, it’s all rather moot.

And I am so tired of hearing people bring up human trafficking as a reason to illegalize prostitution. If it’s legal then the activity is out in the open in licensed businesses that can be inspected. A customer that suspects something shady can report to the police and the women can be unafraid to talk to the law. If it’s illegal then everything is underground and trafficking can flourish in an atmosphere where everyone is already breaking the law and scared to talk to the police.

These misguided laws won’t stop the activity. They just endanger the very same women that are supposed to protect.

As far as “moral” reasons to outlaw prostitution: It’s just another way people try to tell a woman what she can do with her own body.