E-Thesis 251 views
The Opinions of Athletes on the Exclusion of Individuals with a Difference in Sex Development in the Female Category of Elite Sport / NIALL FIFE
Swansea University Author: NIALL FIFE
Abstract
The exclusion of athletes with a Difference in Sex Development (DSD) who wish to compete within the female category has been contested among academics and Sporting Governing Bodies (SGBs), and has even involved legal disputes in the case of athletes Dutee Chand and Caster Semenya. Athletes with a DS...
| Published: |
Swansea
2023
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Master of Research |
| Degree name: | MSc by Research |
| Supervisor: | Heffernan, Shane ; Harvey, Andy |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62701 |
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| Abstract: |
The exclusion of athletes with a Difference in Sex Development (DSD) who wish to compete within the female category has been contested among academics and Sporting Governing Bodies (SGBs), and has even involved legal disputes in the case of athletes Dutee Chand and Caster Semenya. Athletes with a DSD are currently being excluded from competing in specific elite female events and competitions by Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) and World Athletics (WA) in hope “to ensure fair and meaningful competition” (World Athletics, 2018, para.10)”. Although there is some literature being published about the exclusion of athletes with a DSD, there are perspectives that have not yet been accounted for, such as the opinions of elite and world class athletes. Therefore, the aim of this research was to uncover the opinions of elite and world class athletes on the inclusion/exclusion of individuals with a DSD. A literature review was conducted, followed by a distribution of a survey involving 123 elite and world class athletes asking questions concerning the inclusion of athletes with a DSD. This was followed by interviews with five athletes who completed the survey, with one saying “It’s nice that you do your research about this”, acknowledging the importance this research can provide. The combined results of the survey and interviews highlighted: the restricted knowledge current athletes possess about athletes with a DSD; the exclusion of athletes with a DSD is not widely accepted; asking athletes to take non-medically required drugs in order to compete is seen as unethical; the concept of fairness is inconsistent and difficult to conceptualise; finally, athletes with a DSD should be involved in future policy making regarding DSD inclusion. It was also acknowledged within the literature review and ethical discussion that current policies that encourage exclusion fail to have appropriate evidence justifying the rationale of excluding athletes with a DSD; show discriminatory characteristics; and break human rights. Therefore, this thesis hopes to provide evidence that excluding athletes with a DSD in elite female sport is not acceptable and inclusion of these athletes should be a top priority for SGBs. |
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| Keywords: |
Elite Sport Policy |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |