Athletic star Mihambo raises doubts about genetic testing prior to World Cup events
In the lead-up to the Tokyo World Championships, a controversial topic has arisen: mandatory gender tests for all athletes competing in the women's category. The World Athletics Federation (formerly IAAF) has announced that only those who present a "female" result on the SRY gene test will be allowed to compete.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has defended this decision, stating it is a means to protect women's sports and ensure fair competition. However, not everyone agrees with this approach.
German athlete Malaika Mihambo, the long jump Olympic champion, continues to view the mandatory tests with skepticism. She has expressed concern about the many unanswered questions regarding the tests and believes they are not optimal, neither in the short nor long term.
Mihambo, who has already undergone the SRY gene test and received her results, notes that the introduction of the test was very short notice. Another German medal hopeful, javelin thrower Julian Weber, did not participate in the planned press conference on Monday, reportedly dealing with issues related to training and jet lag.
Mihambo suggests testing the top 8 or top 12 athletes on the podium in Tokyo as an efficient alternative to the mandatory tests. She also notes that geneticists, doctors, or researchers could explain the topic better than she can.
The federation has stated that Weber's issues are not severe, and he arrived at the training camp in Miyazaki only the day before the press conference. The World Championships in Tokyo will begin this Saturday and run until September 21.
The topic Mihambo referred to is broader than the mandatory gender tests for the World Championships in Tokyo. It raises questions about the role of genetic testing in sports and the impact it may have on athletes' privacy and well-being.
As the world's best athletes prepare to compete in Tokyo, the issue of mandatory gender tests remains a point of contention. The discussions surrounding this topic are sure to continue as the Championships progress.
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