Indian runner fails gender test, loses medal

[ranasrule]

Indian runner fails gender test, loses medal

NEW DELHI, India -- An Indian runner who won a silver medal in the women's 800 meters at the Asian Games failed a gender test and was stripped of the medal.

Shanti Sounderajan, 25, took the gender test in Doha, Qatar, after placing second.

The test reports sent to the Indian Olympic Association on Sunday said Soudarajan "does not possess the sexual characteristics of a woman," The Times of India reported. The test was administered by a medical commission set up by the games' organizers.

The Indian Olympic Association said Monday it has been told by the Olympic Council of Asia that the 25-year-old runner was disqualified.

"IOA has asked the Athletic Federation of India to return the medal as desired by the Olympic Council of Asia," the Indian Olympic group said.

The IOA also asked its medical commission to inquire into Sounderajan's case and report within 10 days.

There are no compulsory gender tests during events sanctioned by track and field's international ruling body, but athletes may be asked to take a gender test. The medical evaluation panel usually includes a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist and internal medicine specialist.

An Indian athletics official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media said Sounderajan almost certainly never had sex-change surgery.

Instead, the official said Sounderajan appeared to have "abnormal chromosomes." The official also said the test revealed more Y chromosomes than allowed.

Sounderajan was not immediately available for comment.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfiel...tory?id=2701018

[I am Reid]

Anyways, was a test really needed. The couldnt even win gold, thats enough punishment.

Edited January 15, 2007 by Boffa Jones

[crimsonhead]

Reminds me of that episode of Futurama :D

[Mike]

How come they just didn't look up under her skirt? I mean..was a test really necessary?

maybe they had a sex change and so lacked evidence on the outside?

[JohnMarsten]

Genetic males exist which look exactly like women but are genetically males. The only difference between them and real females is the chromosome count and the fact that these 'women' are born with 'blind vaginas' which basically means they lack an uterus. Therefore they gotta test their blood samples to see what their chromosome count looks like to determine whether they classify as women or men.

[v0ltage789]

What a sick loser.

[DomG]

Wow, that's definitely a kick in the...balls.

[Crazysah]

This is just bad but the only good tihng to come out of it is that India are going to win a bronze instead as our other runer came 4th!

[Pallab]

How come they just didn't look up under her skirt? I mean..was a test really necessary?

It's not that simple.

I believe most of her physical char. resembles a woman. Her birth certificate states her as one and she was always treated by her parents as one.

I feel quite sorry for her :no:

[Chris Allen Veteran]

Could be to do with steroids. Taking them could cause an imbalance in chromosomes depending on the type and dosage.

[Mx]

Wow, if it is a simple genetics thing, that means she is more male than female, I feel ever so sorry for her.

[CatnipOligarchy]

was a test necessary? just look at him..

[d3nuo]

yea that's not really difficult to tell per just looking at the mugshot..

[Nashy]

No one would hit it?

[snyper]

^you would.

Anyhow, i dont see the confusion..thats a dude...no amount of steriods will make a woman look as dudely..

Dam those bloody americans.

[MJD]

Is that an adams apple I see?

[snyper]

Is that an adams apple I see?

no, she swallowed a small reptile. :p

[Japlabot]

Could be to do with steroids. Taking them could cause an imbalance in chromosomes depending on the type and dosage.

Steroids effects hormones, not DNA

[Ayepecks]

The sad thing here is this is what it takes for people to even look at the sport of track and field.