Whether it is gays in the Olympics, or anabolic steroids and A-Rod, our assessment of athletics is dramatically colored by our beliefs about sex, gender identity, and the role steroid hormones play in that mix. In fact, steroids are the epicenter of two distinct controversies shaking the world of elite sports:
- Should intersex women who have naturally elevated levels of steroids called androgens be eligible to compete as women?
- Should athletes, male or female, be able to administer chemically modified androgens (anabolic steroids) to improve athletic performance?
Naturally or by needle, some argue that people with elevated levels of anabolic steroids, should not compete. If we agree one’s God-given hormone environment should not disqualify a female from participating in women’s sports, why don’t we sanction the use of performance-enhancing steroids?
via Pacific Standard
(Photo: Nickola_Che/Shutterstock)
