Top 400m Sprinters Ruled Ineligible Due To Testosterone Rule

The National Olympic Committee ruled that two of the world’s three fastest women’s 400m sprinters this year are now being ruled ineligible to run in the Olympic event due to a rule capping testosterone levels in women’s events from the 400m through the mile.

According to NBC News, the Namibia Olympic Committee claims that Namibians Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, both 18, “have a natural high testosterone level” after undergoing medical tests for athletes with differences in sexual development.

“According to the rules of World Athletics, this means that they are not eligible to participate in events from 400m to 1600m,” the committee said. “It is important to understand that both our athletes were not aware of this condition neither did any family member, their coach or the NNOC-CGA [Namibia Olympic Committee] were aware of it. … Both Christine and Beatrice will be able to compete in the 100m and 200m events.”

A World Athletics rule that went into effect in 2019 caps athlete testosterone levels in women’s events from the 400m through the mile for athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD). World Athletics said that no female athletes would have a level above the cap of five nanomoles per liter — unless they had a DSD or a tumor.

Affected runners can either move up or down in distance or take testosterone-suppressing measures to stay under the limit for six consecutive months before being allowed to compete in those events.