Both men and women produce testosterone, but concentrations of testosterone in the blood are generally higher in men than in women. However, the testosterone levels of some XX females fall within the range of testosterone levels of XY men. This overlap has created controversy within women’s sports. Testosterone is known to increase muscle mass and enhance some types of athletic performance, so some people have suggested that women with naturally high testosterone levels have an unfair competitive advantage. In 2011, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) adopted a policy that limits levels of testosterone in female athletes, saying that female athletes must not have a blood testosterone concentration greater than 10 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L), a level typically seen in men. Some elite female athletes have natural testosterone levels above this limit and have challenged the policy. Do you think that it is fair for XX females with naturally high testosterone (levels typically found in XYmales) to compete in women’s sports? Do they have an unfair advantage in competition with other women? What about male athletes with naturally high levels of testosterone? Do they have an unfair advantage over other males? In general, what role does genetics play in athletic competition—do some individuals have genes that give them an unfair advantage in competition?
Both men and women produce testosterone, but concentrations of testosterone in the blood are generally higher in men than in women. However, the testosterone levels of some XX females fall within the range of testosterone levels of XY men. This overlap has created controversy within women’s sports. Testosterone is known to increase muscle mass and enhance some types of athletic performance, so some people have suggested that women with naturally high testosterone levels have an unfair competitive advantage. In 2011, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) adopted a policy that limits levels of testosterone in female athletes, saying that female athletes must not have a blood testosterone concentration greater than 10 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L), a level typically seen in men. Some elite female athletes have natural testosterone levels above this limit and have challenged the policy. Do you think that it is fair for XX females with naturally high testosterone (levels typically found in XY
males) to compete in women’s sports? Do they have an unfair advantage in competition with other women? What about male athletes with naturally high levels of testosterone? Do they have an unfair advantage over other males? In general, what role does genetics play in athletic competition—do some individuals have genes that give them an unfair advantage in competition?
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