Two Namibian sprinters banned from Olympics 400-meter event due to the same testosterone rule that blocked Caster Semenya
Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi were barred from the 400m through 1600m event by the Olympics.
Reuters reported they had naturally high testosterone levels that surpassed World Athletics regulations.
These are the same testosterone limits that barred South African gold medalist Caster Semenya from competing.
Namibian runners Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi were disqualified from the 400m event at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo for having testosterone levels that surpassed International Olympics Committee regulations.
Reuters reported the Olympic hopefuls didn't score within the range of testosterone allowed to compete in women's events from 400m to 1600m.
World Athletics, the governing body of athletic competitions across the globe, dictates female athletes maintain a testosterone level below five (5) nmol/L.
"The results from the testing centre indicated that both athletes have a naturally high testosterone level," the Namibia National Olympic Committee wrote in a statement. "According to the rule of World Athletics, this means that they are not eligible to participate in events from 400m to 1600m."
The same testosterone restrictions disqualified South African runner and Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya from competing in her preferred event, the 800m, to qualify for the 2021 Olympic Games.
Testing for testosterone levels at international sports competitions first occurred at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela to test for testosterone doping. However, Dr. Deanne Adkins previously told Insider naturally high levels of testosterone are not the same as the levels achieved by doping.
Hormone restrictions have been a hot topic of conversation surrounding this year's Olympics, as critics say the IOC hormone requirements harm intersex athletes.
"It's like they're chasing us away from sport," an anonymous professional runner told Human Rights Watch about World Athletics.
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