Athletics: China field a women’s relay team featuring two men

[Haworthia]

This was as predictable as the day is long. China are well known for their, er, intense pursuit of national success at the Olympics. What better way than to field two blokes but insist they’re women!

I mean, look at them.

On Twitter there were numerous people suggesting that they were possibly women who have taken massive doses of testosterone. Personally, I don’t think testosterone could ever give a natal woman such masculine faces.

They’re men.

twitter.com/savewomenssport/status/1167544600002748417?s=21

I'm wondering if the Chinese are simply testing the waters by putting this photo out there ahead of the Olympics, to see what they might be able to get away with?

The more of these discussions we have, the more I am coming to the conclusion that males are much, much worse at picking up on subtle indicators and correctly identifying the sex of others. It’s been said many times before on FWR, but its a basic requisite for women and girls’ survival. We are exceptionally observant and way more vigilant. Scenes like one in the Bourne Identity where Jason Bourne ‘reads’ the room for threats for his female companion make me think “yeah, and?”

In my late teens I was only mildly short-sighted and could get away without wearing my glasses. My Mum persuaded me one evening that I looked prettier without them on and not to wear them out drinking in town/clubbing. It was a very uncomfortable evening and I did not enjoy myself at all. I couldn’t pick up on subtle cues and behaviour to determine whether I was walking into an edgy situation, especially once there were lots of disinhibited drunks in the crowd, or read people’s intent. It was the first and last time I went out without my glasses.

wondering if the Chinese are simply testing the waters by putting this photo out there ahead of the Olympics, to see what they might be able to get away with?

one of the woman is ranked 1420th in the world what will they be hoping to achieve, they top the medal table as it is there a 1/4 of the world's population. please tell us all about there sinister plans.

It would be easy to back up their claims, by showing photographs of up and coming athletes, interviews, high school grad pictures.

It would be easy to back up their claims, by showing photographs of up and coming athletes, interviews, high school grad pictures.

The problem with this is there is a history of falsified documents from China. Birth certificates for gymnasts “proving” they are over 16 for example. There needs to be independent testing. As pp have said, it’s not invasive. Saliva for chromosomes. Everyone who wants to compete in women’s sport should have to have one. If you have a Y chromosome, you can’t come in.

I'm not suggesting it's instead of that, not bad. I completely agree, they should be tested. Everyone should, as a matter of course. So you're not singling anyone out.

But I can't find any backstory, at all. I've only skimmed, it's true, but you'd think there'd be something.

Bespin

They confirmed they are women. Women in the IOC sense. I.e. males with

they top the medal table as it is there a 1/4 of the world's population

Not true, actually. As I said earlier, they haven’t topped the medal table since Beijing 2008.

At present the saliva test is pointless, the only people involved would be the governing body, the athletes and their respected country. The Y chromosome would first need to be excluded, at present under their own rules an xy athlete is female so the saliva test will come back female.

Owl is indeed stupid if Owl thinks that someone who was put on cross sex hormones before puberty, will need to be on medication for life, has possibly had extensive surgery and will have all manner of long term side effects from surgery and medication, will be equipped, physically or mentally to compete in sport at elite level.

And think about the commitment it takes to compete in sport at that level, it takes over your whole life and often the life of those around you from a fairly young age. I highly doubt that children who are apparently so gender dysphoric that they need to be put on cross sex hormones before puberty would have the head space to also be totally devoted to a sport as well.

Well, the future is certainly not female is it? The future olympics with be anyone not a natural born woman!

Sorry Datun I didn’t mean to sound critical.

I don’t see how the chromosome test wouldn’t work. Clear rule of XY = can’t compete with women. No messing around with language.

Owl is indeed stupid

I’m just going to stop you there.

Sorry Datun I didn’t mean to sound critical.

No, no, I didn't mean to imply that you had. (Ha - look at us!)

There is, obviously, this ridiculous grey area where someone can say a man is a woman, and be accurate, in terms of the law.

But that means anyone can. And will.

It will only escalate the inevitable, I hope.

At which point, a saliva test would sort it, cheaply and non-invasively. For everyone. And just call them XX and XY, yes. No need to get involved in daft language that will only start a war of attrition, if they don't want to.

But if you believe those to be women when you look at them, you have issues. Compare the bodies, I mean my lord, look at the body fat % difference compared to Fu, the hips difference. So yes, unless you prove otherwise, these very male looking individuals will be assumed to be male.

There is no point explaining this stuff to someone who believes that woman is a feeling.

I’m just going to stop you there.

I'm reminded of the words of Fanny Cann from whom I have taken my name.

"Stop" said Miss Cann "''tis all summed up in those two words 'He Said'"

It's a book by an Edwardian author,

The Beacon and is much about strong female characters.

At which point, a saliva test would sort it, cheaply and non-invasively. For everyone. And just call them XX and XY, yes. No need to get involved in daft language that will only start a war of attrition, if they don't want to.

It's actually a little bit hilarious that the IOC has decided to leave the door open for the old male-athlete-posing-as-woman trick after all the bloody effort and money they have put into anti-doping.

It's actually a little bit hilarious that the IOC has decided to leave the door open for the old male-athlete-posing-as-woman trick after all the bloody effort and money they have put into anti-doping
The irony just slays me. And who thought up the testosterone levels the way they are. Totally bloody unfair despite all the other advantages men have to then make the testosterone 3 times a average womans.

The just need to do a lab test at the Olympics, I mean literally have a Labrador sniff every participant, dogs can easily distinguish between men and women. as can women that's meant to be light-hearted btw.

There is no point explaining this stuff to someone who believes that woman is a feeling.

And who is laughing at us on Twitter.

Not cool Bespin.

I asked my 4 year old about that photo. Lady, man, man, lady was her verdict.

Self ID won't be taken advantage of, oh no............

I really don’t understand how self belief can be accepted as physical evidence. I like to believe that I am a good runner but physiology thinks otherwise.

Bespin laughing on twitter at women's sport being taken over by men just reveals that bespin does not see themselves as a woman at all, and has no empathy, or sisterhood with women - bespin only shows empathy with males who identify as women in their heads.

This is gaslighting on an international scale - two of those athletes are men - they look male and they sound male. Who could deny it? They haven't even bothered to grow their hair. The Olympics over the next decade are going to be a bad joke for women.

BettyFilous same here. Was persuaded to leave my glasses behind aged 15 to go out with girls I didn't know that well. Supremely uncomfortable. Could read no cues, pick up no body language, nothing. Never done it again.

Also agree, men seem to be much worse at sexing blokes that present femme. Watched a programme recently, I had my back to screen, asked male friend in room with me "who's that guy?" "What do you mean guy, that's a woman!" Turned round, presenter was a typical middle-aged transitioner who didn't just sound male but looked it. (Although clearly voice-trained to emulate a female vocal range, this is a sound I've come to associate with males who transition after undergoing male puberty.)

I even checked the guy out because my friend wouldn't believe me. Yup, typical late transitioner with wife and kids. So I asked male friend, "how can gou not immediately read that person as male?" "I thought it was just an ugly woman." And that wasn't even someone anywhere near to passing, where I have to rely on the subtler cues.