Rose Eveleth, Tested

Since the very beginning of women’s sports, there has been a struggle to define who, exactly, gets to compete in the women’s category. A century later, while incredible strides have been made to achieve gender equity in Olympic participation, this struggle is still very much alive.

In 2023, track and field authorities announced new regulations that mean some women can no longer compete in the women’s category unless they lower their body’s naturally occurring testosterone levels. Tested follows the still-unfolding story of two of these athletes: Christine Mboma, the Olympic silver medalist from Namibia, and Maximila Imali, who holds two Kenyan national records. They were assigned female at birth, raised as girls, and have never questioned their gender identity. But they have bodies that some argue give them an “unfair advantage.” The new rules offer them three choices: give up their Olympic dreams, try to challenge the rules, or alter their bodies.

This story traces the surprising, 100-year history of sex testing in elite sports that led to this moment. Through the eyes of Mboma, Imali, and a whole cast of historians, scientists, doctors, and other athletes, host Rose Eveleth explores a question that goes far beyond sports: What is fair and who decides?

Join the New America Fellows Program and Arizona State University's Sports @ Humanities Institute for a conversation with Victoria Jackson and 2022 New America Fellow Rose Eveleth about Tested.

Click here to learn more and listen to all episodes of Tested.

Speakers:
Rose Eveleth, @roseveleth
2022 New America Fellow
Writer, reporter, and host, Tested 

Victoria Jackson, @HistoryRunner
Sports @ Humanities Institute and Great Game Lab co-director, Arizona State University Retired professional track and field athlete