Friday, 4 December 2020
Available in
End Abusive Sex Testing for Women Athletes
(Geneva, December 4, 2020) – Women track and field athletes, largely from the Global South, are abused and harmed by “sex testing” regulations, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The regulations target women in running events between 400 meters and one mile, and compel women they target to undergo medical interventions or be forced out of competition.
The 127-page report, “‘They’re Chasing Us Away from Sport’: Human Rights Violations in Sex Testing of Elite Women Athletes,” documents the experiences of more than a dozen women athletes from the Global South who have been affected by sex testing regulations. Human Rights watch found that global regulations that encourage discrimination, surveillance, and coerced medical intervention on women athletes result in physical and psychological injury and economic hardship. The International Olympic Committee – the supreme body in global sports – is developing guidelines to address human rights violations caused by sex testing policies.
The 127-page report, “‘They’re Chasing Us Away from Sport’: Human Rights Violations in Sex Testing of Elite Women Athletes,” documents the experiences of more than a dozen women athletes from the Global South who have been affected by sex testing regulations. Human Rights watch found that global regulations that encourage discrimination, surveillance, and coerced medical intervention on women athletes result in physical and psychological injury and economic hardship. The International Olympic Committee – the supreme body in global sports – is developing guidelines to address human rights violations caused by sex testing policies.
Videos (2)
Feature
5m 49s
Clip Reel
7m 51s
Related News
ENG
FRA
Monday, 12 January 2026
DR Congo: Surge in Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Urgent Support for Survivors Needed After US Aid Cuts
ENG
Wednesday, 20 August 2025
“There Will be Nowhere Left”
Government, Companies Take Indigenous Lands Without Women’s Consent in Indonesia’s South Papua
ENG
ESP
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
Without Water, We Are Nothing
The Urgent Need for a Water Law in Guatemala