NeedSomeCake

Scientist and general fan of pedals and baked goods. Oh, and plants.

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@RideFastCoach Rock on @RideFastCoach 🤘I started learning 🎸 when I stopped riding - now I can play various bits of songs more slowly than the original…

[Emma Hilton @FondOfBeetles]

OK, amid the chaos that most journalists are using as misdirection, what *did* we learn at the IBA conference yesterday?

The two boxers were tested twice.
(This is a good thing. Duplication of tests is necessary to ensure reliable data.)

The testing was done by reliable lab facility.
(The IBA saying they are WADA-certified labs is their way of saying the tests were not done with an Internet kit in someone’s kitchen. BBC @SeanPaulKearns might note that they weren’t saying testing was done by WADA 😉)

The testing was genetic, and the results mean that both boxers were ineligible for the female category.
-and-
The IBA define their female category as XX.

The IBA will not reveal individual results.
(This is ethically correct, in the absence of consent from the athletes. They are upholding privacy and medical confidentiality.)

The IBA tell us explicitly that in the absence of actual results, we should “read between the lines”.
(Reading between the lines, the athletes are XY. There is no reasonable alternative reading.)

The IBA mentioned a “male karyotype”.
(As well as confirming XY, this tells me the test process involved direct visualisation of chromosomes from cellular material. This is an entirely rational “first step” in the context of a sex screen. I would argue for a different method, but let’s wait until I get asked…)

The IBA mentioned high testosterone, yet their statement in the test procedure say that testosterone testing was not undertaken.
(An entirely reasonable interpretation is that T testing wasn’t part of the sex screen, but T levels in these athletes is known via other screens like anti-doping. Someone - a journalist maybe - should ask them. Rushing to a formal endocrine profile as part of a sex screen is not a particularly obvious thing to do, and it may be that this is what the IBA meant.)

With an XY karyotype and high testosterone (from which the presence of testes can be strongly - and I mean strongly - inferred), these athletes have, so far, the male-typical biology that is relevant in sport.

That’s what we know, if we don’t pretend we can’t detect the signal through the noise^

What can we think about moving forward?

If both athletes were observed as female at birth, and have XY chromosomes, medical follow up must be made available to them.

The typical medical flowcharts for follow up testing would elucidate, if present, an XY DSD. This is, I think, important health information for them, whatever happens in sport.

Understanding the precise DSD would permit rational categorisation according to the possibility of male advantage.

All this should have been done years ago.

——

I’ve just taken quite a narrow view, not trying to capture the whole picture.

[Ross Tucker @Scienceofsport]

Because if we recognize ONLY natural advantage, then the biggest one is being male. So in sport it would mean that "being male" (or having male advantage) would be THE talent. And being female would be a disadvantage. For fairness & safety, female sport must exclude that "talent"

[Cathy Devine @cathydevine56]

In which journo for @cyclingweekly @adambecket reveals:
1. He doesn't really think girls and women are people.
2. Fairness in sport for females is a vanishingly small issue.
3. Equal competitive opportunities for females is 'anti-trans'.

[Jon Pike @runthinkwrite]

This deserves a thread, because @pippa_york is famous, and her insults are unfair...

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@OctopusEnergy Hi there! I’m looking for info on Intelligent Octopus - would the cheaper rate apply to general energy usage when a car is not charging during the off peak period?

[Ross Tucker @Scienceofsport]

Astonishing. Another sport that will get what it deserves, unfortunately for women. “Major step forward for policies that balance fairness & inclusion”. We are truly in a post fact-world if anyone believes this policy achieves that. All it achieves is discrimination against women

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

So excited to be here - fangirling the awesomeness of the lineup #AmplifyingWomen

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@RideFastCoach @BBCNews Their position was untenable - a crap policy which failed to deal with its first public meeting with the real world.

[Emma Hilton @FondOfBeetles]

Appalling bullying here. Female athletes are allowed to speak about their sports category (with male allies in support!).

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@mara_yamauchi 🙋🏻‍♀️ Ticket booked, can’t wait!

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

A hard agree from me - governing bodies have been woeful on this topic with few notable exceptions e.g World Rugby, who were vilified for a full and proper consultation and who actually listened to all sides and available scientific evidence

[Jon Pike @runthinkwrite]

Every time you hear Joanna Harper on @SkyNews or @BBCPM or @5liveSport or wherever, you will hear JH talk about "meaningful competition". Listen out.
Every time, what JH means, and relies on, is that male advantage is OK in female sport, as long as it's not too big.
I disagree.

[Sharron Davies HoL MBE @sharrond62]

Shameful @BritishCycling as a governing body it’s your job to look after female athletes as well as male ones! The very least you could do is listen & work with the actual science. I will remember & remind you of your position in years to come

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

Come on @OVOEnergy - I reported our smart meter was no longer sending you meter readings in July and despite follow up requests, still no info at all on when it might be fixed. It seems customer service Is not a priority for you any more which is a great shame...

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@RideFastCoach Only if Boney M can give me a hand editing the transcripts for recorded lectures 😩

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@RideFastCoach Jeez, sorry to hear that - hope you’re doing okay? The amount of muppet drivers on the road seems very high at the moment. Best wishes for a speedy recovery....

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@RideFastCoach Do you know I think Axl was a fan of cycling back in the day - here he is in his dad’s old base layer and a very questionable pair of shorts 🙈😱 https://t.co/YViabiX6xl

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@RideFastCoach Looks like a tough day at the office 🤔😀

[NeedSomeCake @NeedSomeCake]

@RideFastCoach @ITV4 The £4 we shelled out on membership of ITVhub for one month was one of the best investments ever - no ads on catchup, meaning no donkeys over 50 🥳 It’s great 😀