AIPS members say gender testing should be reintroduced in sport
Publicat pe 14 septembrie, 2009
From www.aipsmedia.com
The overwhelming majority of AIPS members who participated in the poll “Should gender testing be reinstated” have voted YES. 74.34% of respondents voted in the affirmative and 25.66% voted against the reintroduction of gender testing in sport. A total of 152 AIPS members from 64 countries voiced their opinion in the web poll which was run following the controversy surround South African athlete Caster Semenya who won the women’s 800m gold medal at the recent IAAF Championships in Athletics in Berlin. Meanwhile, South African media reports say the government has written to the United Nations seeking clarification on whether or not Semenya has been treated in line with UN protocols on gender and equality. The letter written by Noluthando Mayenda-Sibeya, Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, to the UN’s Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), argues that there has been a blatant disregard for Semenya’s human dignity. The South African government believes the matter violates at least three international commitments governed by the UN on protection and promotion of rights of women. Mayende-Sibiya argues that Semenya’s treatment 1. Undermines article 13 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women which requires that measures be put in place to eliminate discrimination and promote the rights of women to participate in sports. 2. Violates the Beijing Platform for Action which calls for gender-sensitive programmes for girls and women of all ages and support in all areas of athletics including coaching and administration at the national, regional and international levels. 3. Contradicts the Brighton Declaration of 1994 which called for a sporting culture that values and enables the full involvement of women in every aspect of sport. In other developments Athletics South Africa (ASA) chief Leonard Chuene, is to return to the IAAF board. Chuene left the IAAF after accusing it of humiliating Semenya and will return to help fight for her case. A statement from ASA said it had instructed Chuene „to withdraw his resignation from the Council of the IAAF and resume his responsibilities as mandated by Athletics South Africa … and the Confederation of African Athletics”. The IAAF said Friday it is reviewing results of gender tests on Semenya and will not issue any final decision until November.