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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Olympics: AP Exclusive: IOC recommends gender-test centers


By STEPHEN WILSON
AP Sports Writer

LONDON — The International Olympic Committee is recommending the establishment of special medical centers to deal with cases of athletes with ambiguous sexual characteristics.

The IOC says rules should be put into place for determining the eligibility on a “case by case basis” of athletes whose gender is called into question.
The IOC organized a two-day conference with medical specialists in Miami to consider guidelines for sex-verification cases. The issue gained global attention last year when South African runner Caster Semenya was ordered to undergo gender tests. She won the 800 meters at the world championships.
IOC medical commission chairman Arne Ljungqvist tells The Associated Press the experts agreed on several scientific points for dealing with cases.