Sex testing in the Olympics has a fraught history

+ stardust older than the Sun, on Earth US Edition - Today's top story: Imane Khelif controversy at Paris Olympics shows how sex testing in women’s sports puts regulators in an impossible bind [View in browser]( US Edition | 7 August 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Why are there so few Black doctors?]( - [Big temperature swings can be dangerous]( - [Is your image of how science works out of date?]( Lead story Yesterday, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif easily defeated Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand to secure a berth in the Olympic gold medal final, which will take place on Aug. 9. As chants of “Khelif, Khelif, Khelif” rained down from her boisterous supporters, Khelif was unable to contain her emotions: It’s been a whirlwind of a week for the 25-year-old. After her preliminary bout against Italian Angela Carini last Thursday, Khelif – and her sport – became embroiled in controversy. Many viewers soon learned that Khelif had been banned by the International Boxing Association in 2023 for failing a gender eligibility test, and anti-transgender influencers pounced, spreading a mix of misinformation and vitriol. Penn State’s Jaime Schultz has studied the regulation of sex and gender in sports. She explains why Khelif – who has never identified as trans or intersex – was allowed to compete in the Olympics as a woman, and why regulators have [never been able to come up with a foolproof form of sex testing](. “History shows that there are no conclusive ways to determine sex,” Schultz writes, “and no consensus over the extent to which the distinction matters.” [ [One great story every day, texted directly to you](. ] Nick Lehr Arts + Culture Editor Algerian boxer Imane Khelif celebrates her victory in the women’s boxing 66-kilogram quarterfinal match at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 3, 2024. Richard Pelham/Getty Images [Imane Khelif controversy at Paris Olympics shows how sex testing in women’s sports puts regulators in an impossible bind]( Jaime Schultz, Penn State Most sports are organized according to a strict male-female binary. Nature isn’t. Ethics + Religion - [Remembering the longest journey to Auschwitz – the deportation of Rhodes’ Jews decimated a small but vibrant community with centuries of Mediterranean history]( Devin Naar, University of Washington Even as Germany’s defeat loomed, the Nazis deported nearly 1,700 Jews of the Ladino-speaking community of Rhodes to concentration camps. Economy + Business - [White men who have been mistreated at work are more likely to notice and report harassment − new research]( Erin A. Cech, University of Michigan These findings suggest that encouraging white men to reflect on what happens to them on the job could make them better allies of their co-workers who are women or people of color. Politics + Society - [For Black Americans, higher police pay doesn’t always mean fewer violent confrontations as it does for other racial groups]( Thaddeus L. Johnson, Georgia State University; Natasha N. Johnson, Georgia State University A new study finds that higher salaries in cities with unions leads to an uptick in the death rate for Black people from police actions. - [Shortage of Black doctors is rooted in racist history − a $600M gift will help historically Black medical schools address the gap]( Benjamin Chrisinger, Tufts University Increased mistrust of the US medical profession and higher mortality rates are consequences of the low numbers of Black doctors. A massive gift to Black medical colleges may help build those numbers. Environment + Energy - [Tropical Storm Debby loiters along the Carolinas, bringing days of heavy rain and flooding – a climate scientist explains why]( Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell With Debby’s storm track, much of the East Coast is forecast to get soaked. Climate change also plays a role in the downpours. - [Heat risk isn’t just about the highs: Large daily temperature swings can harm human health – maps show who is affected most]( Shengjie Liu, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Emily Smith-Greenaway, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Mapping daily temperature variations across the US revealed stark differences between wealthy and poor neighborhoods, and large differences by race. Science + Technology - [Ancient grains of dust from space can be found on Earth − and provide clues about the life cycle of stars]( Sachiko Amari, Washington University in St. Louis Most presolar grains were destroyed in the formation of the universe. But some survived on meteorites. - [A common parasite could one day deliver drugs to the brain − how scientists are turning Toxoplasma gondii from foe into friend]( Bill Sullivan, Indiana University Getting drugs into the brain is a challenge. A new study suggests a brain parasite may be able to help. - [AI helps lighten the load on the electric grid – without skimping on people’s energy use]( Zoltan Nagy, The University of Texas at Austin Smart buildings can team up to be more energy efficient while keeping the people inside comfortable. - [Multiple goals, multiple solutions, plenty of second-guessing and revising − here’s how science really works]( Soazig Le Bihan, University of Montana Unrealistic, outdated ideas that idealize science can set the public up to distrust scientists and the research process. A philosopher of science describes 3 aspects of how science really gets done. Trending on site - [Bangladesh’s protests explained: What led to PM’s ouster and the challenges that lie ahead]( - [Kamala Harris’ identity as a biracial woman is either a strength or a weakness, depending on whom you ask]( - [Attention, jittery investors: Stop panicking … this is what a soft landing should look like]( Today's graphic 📈 [A map of Asia highlighting the location of the Strait of Malacca.]( From the story, [Chinese warships off Alaska and Cambodia highlight the role of near and far waters in sea power dominance]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [Giving Today]( [New!] • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Threads]( • [Nostr]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to [help you make sense of our complex world](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](