E-Paper
SAI: Dutee can't compete in women's category at Glasgow
Dutee Chand, one of the country's top teenage female sprinters, will not be eligible to compete in the women's category due to excess androgen (hyperandrogenism) in her body, according to a statement issued by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Dutee Chand, one of the country's top teenage female sprinters, will not be eligible to compete in the women's category due to excess androgen (hyperandrogenism) in her body, according to a statement issued by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The sprinter had to undergo medical tests at Bangalore recently where she was preparing for international meets. Following the test, she was dropped from the World junior championships beginning July 22, as well as from the national squad bound for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The SAI statement said she would be eligible to compete in the female category in future if she "takes proper medical help to lower her androgen within permissible limits".
SAI also reiterated that test was not conducted to determine the gender of the athlete, which is against the guidelines of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but to confirm the level of androgen in the body. The test had, in fact, indicated that she had excess androgen than what is specified by the medical commission of the IAAF.
Surprisingly, Chand had been in the national camp for over two years, and had represented the country in several international meets including the Asian junior meet held recently in Taipei. But no medical examination was done.
