Mboma, Masilingi hit major stumbling block

World Athletics throws curve ball
If Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi don't comply with the new rules set by World Athletics, their careers might be over.
Limba Mupetami
Limba Mupetami

Windhoek

In a devastating turn of events, World Athletics (WA) last week banned athletes who are transgender women or who have differences of sexual development (DSD) from competing in elite track and field competitions, effective 31 March.

Namibia’s top athletes, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, have been classified as DSD athletes. DSD is a rare condition characterized by a mix of male and female hormones, genes, and/or reproductive organs.

According to international media reports, under the new rules, DSD athletes will be required to reduce their blood testosterone level to below 2.5 nanomoles per litre, which is half of the previously accepted level of five nanomoles.

Revised rules and conditions

In addition, the rules state that athletes must remain under this threshold for two years in order to compete internationally in the female category in any track and field event.

The revised rules now encompass all track events, a change from previous restrictions that only affected events ranging from 400 metres to a mile.

However, interim provisions will be put in place for DSD athletes already competing outside the previously restricted distances.

They will only be required to suppress their testosterone levels for six months before competing in any World Athletics-sanctioned event.

Positive but ready to fight

But this still does not allow enough time for Mboma, Masilingi, and others to comply before August’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Mboma’s management team responded that the news was not expected.

“Our team, however, remains positive and will work with a medical team to get Christine back on the track as soon as possible. We believe in her abilities and see this as an obstacle that can be overcome,” a statement issued by her team noted.

Mboma’s coach, Henk Botha, told international media they are ready to consider all options, including legal action.

“For us, this is an obstacle, not the end,” Botha said. “Challenging World Athletics in court, obviously, is expensive and a long thing. We need to go and look at every single option on the table and take it from there.

“My own opinion is that it’s time for the world to stand up against things like this and the way this has been handled.”

Global impact

Masilingi’s team, Newton Sports Agency, did not issue a press release in response to the news.

Athletics Namibia’s president, Erwin Naimwhaka, said they will release a press statement during the coming week, whereas the National Olympic Committee’s president, Abner Xoagub, also did not respond to questions before going to print.

The two Namibians are joined by a host of Africans who will be impacted by the new rules. The likes of Niger’s African champion Aminatou Seyni, as well as Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, will feel the sting of the revised rules.

The most high-profile exclusion, however, involves South African Caster Semenya, who refuses to take drugs to lower her natural testosterone levels.

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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