Ms. Dutee Chand,
We are Inter/Act, an international advocacy group composed of teens and young adults born intersex (with atypical variations of internal or external sex anatomy). Inter/Act believes we all have the right to live our life authentically and freely. We’ve experienced similar pressures by the medical community to change our hormones and our bodies to fit someone else’s desires.
We are moved by the honorable courage, ambition, and determination you personified throughout this appeal process. As you defy the International Association of Athletic Federation’s unfair policing of females with hyperandrogenism, please know we support your independence from mandated, life-altering surgeries and hormone suppressing treatments. Why are cultivated, trained abilities—such as endurance, stamina, motivation, competitiveness, and discipline—called into question and oversimplified as the consequence of high levels of testosterone? We are deeply concerned with the policies of the IAAF; as well as the irreversible procedures required for competition eligibility provided by the Athletics Federation of India.
We understand the delicate nature of the situation. The IAAF, as a governing body, must provide key principles recognizing differences between male and female sports performance, albeit based upon arbitrary levels of testosterone. Their intention to construct a fair and even playing field for competitors is admirable and, at times, necessary. However, for the large number of competitors possessing a perfectly healthy blend of male and female anatomical characteristics, the field is not even, not in the slightest.
We strongly disagree with any measures that impose prejudicial treatment of bodies with distinct, endocrine imbalances, atypical chromosomal makeup, or non-normative genitals. Imagine a scenario where a person—regardless of gender— overproduces human growth hormone and reaches seven feet tall by age eighteen, weighing a quarter ton. They possess raw talent and passionately devote themselves to the ultra competitive sport of wrestling. So, when this person annihilates the competition, bestowing pride and medals to their country, is size considered an unfair advantage? The likely answer is no, unless of course the wrestler is female and consequently subjected to androgen screenings. Our example clearly illustrates discriminatory policing of of anatomical sex variations, such as hyperandrogenism, in female athletes.
We stand in solidarity with you, Dutee. You are a healthy, brave, fierce young woman. You’re a fighter, a formidable opponent on and off the track. Your humble beginnings reveal a tale of dedication, focus, and hard work. It’s impossible to fully comprehend the hundreds of hours you’ve invested following your athletic aspirations to the very top, all while financially supporting your family. So, for this reason, we find it undeniably deplorable to strip a female runner’s well-deserved opportunity to compete and cross the finish line.
In Solidarity,
Inter/Act Youth
interactyouth.org
Sign the #LetDuteeRun Petetition at www.letduteerun.org and follow the campaign on fb & twitter
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Inter/Act is a project of Advocates for Informed Choice, a non-profit legal organization fighting to preserve the rights of children and teens born with intersex traits. www.aiclegal.org
