Champion female sprinter wins right to compete with high testosterone level in landmark case

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published July 27, 2015

The final appeals court for global sports ruled champion Indian sprinter Dutee Chand must be allowed to compete, despite her testosterone level testing in the range of men's. Chand, who has a high level of testosterone due to a natural condition called hyperandrogenism, was banned from competing against women in 2014.

Chand, an Olympic hopeful, refused suggestions she take hormone-supressing drugs or have surgery, arguing her condition was natural and she shouldn't have to change who she is. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), track and field's governing body, now has two years to scientifically prove the higher levels of testosterone in athletes with Chand's condition are linked to improved performance, The New York Times reports.

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Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.

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