Semenya’s revelations are important because the IAAF claims that taking a pill to suppress testosterone levels is safe and unintrusive, and that this is a humane way to discriminate. Her experience contradicts those claims. But her honesty is also important because it reminds us all that this is not really about appeals or court filings, fairness or protecting women’s sports. It’s about rules rooted in racism, sexism, and homophobia, that aim to control women’s bodies through any means necessary.
Investigative journalists have discovered hundreds of law enforcement officers around the country who are active in members-only Facebook groups that are based on racism, hate and ... well, it would be nice to add a third thing here, but that’s about it.