Testosterone rules for female athletes 'unscientific', claims new article published in British Medical Journal

The sport’s governing body have been accused of taking an “unscientific” approach in the row over testosterone levels in female athletes.

Earlier this month, the IAAF argued their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for why Caster Semenya must take medication to reduce testosterone levels.

But an article in the British Medical Journal published on Thursday by Dr Sheree Bekker and Professor Cara Tannenbaum argued that the IAAF were “setting an unscientific precedent for other cases of genetic advantage”.

The report said: “The medical profession does not define biological sex or physical function by serum testosterone levels alone.”

Semenya took her case to the CAS, who are expected to make their ruling by next Tuesday.

The IAAF want DSD [Differences of Sexual Development] athletes to bring down their testosterone levels to the same as female athletes in what they see as a bid to level the playing field.

Bekker and Tannenbaum, however, argue that natural testosterone levels vary massively in men and women, with higher averages in elite athletes. They say testosterone is only one indicator of sports performance.

The pair added: “If more science is needed... call for health research organisations to deliver on this mandate.”