Inclusivity as Fairness
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2024
ISSN
1536-0075
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Language
en-US
Abstract
In their article Beyond Suppressing Testosterone: A Categorical System to Achieve a “Level Playing Field” in Sport, Jennings and Braun (Citation2024) accurately display how the World Athletics’ (WA) restrictions fail their own definition of fairness by narrowly focusing on testosterone in an alleged effort to reward dedication, talent, and hard work. We agree with their analysis but hope to further highlight that the exclusionary approach the WA has undertaken causes more harm than it prevents. The WA’s decision to further reduce the allowable testosterone levels to 2.5 nmol/L amidst a growing attack on transgender people, not simply athletes, raises doubts about whether the organization’s sole focus is truly on fairness (World Athletics Citation2023a; Ulrich Citation2024). Nevertheless, our aim is to demonstrate how the WA’s policy conflicts with the historical development of sports around inclusivity while creating risks and harms for all who participate in women’s sports, further contradicting their own alleged purpose of protection.
Recommended Citation
Michael Ulrich & Arpita Khanna,
Inclusivity as Fairness
,
24
The American Journal of Bioethics
30
(2024).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/4015
