Participation of Female Athletes with High Testosterone in Olympics

The Problem with Sex Testing
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Should Female Athletics with High Testosterone Levels be banned from participating in Olympic Sports?
Introduction
Testosterone is a hormone that generally stimulates the occurrence and development of male sexual characteristics. It is produced in both males and females. It is mainly produced in the testes in males, while in females, it is primarily produced in the ovaries and the adrenal cortex (Ruth et al., 2020). However, males produce more significant levels of testosterone than females. Testosterone is used to build and strengthen muscles as a doping agent, therefore becoming a significant substance among athletes (Ruth et al., 2020). Some males and females present with astonishingly high testosterone levels without having taken exogenous hormones. Current policies by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have been fighting female athletes with high testosterone levels, wanting them to be disqualified from participating in athletics. The essay will critically address and explain whether these females should be allowed to compete in Olympics.
The Action of Testosterone in Athletic Performance
Testosterone enhances muscle growth and strength by binding to the androgen receptor. After the hormone binds to its receptor, a signal is sent to the muscle cells, and the pathways that trigger muscle mass increase are activated (Ruth et al., 2020). The process is referred to as muscle hypertrophy. The muscle therefore grows and becomes stronger. Elevated muscle mass and strength promote effective endurance in high-intensity exercise, improving athletic performance (Ruth et al., 2020).
However, it is not required to increase and elevate muscle mass and strength in females with normal testosterone levels. In females with boosted levels, their athletic performance is significantly improved (Hilton & Lundberg, 2021). As outlined in the video, female athletes who had male features excelled in Olympics (YouTube, 2019). Their elevated testosterone levels were assu...