Kenyan sprinter Maximilla Imali has courageously opened up about the emotional and physical trauma she endured during her first Differences of Sex Development (DSD) test as a teenager. The incident, which occurred in 2014, involved Imali, then in high school, being forced to undress in front of a male official for a check to verify her biological sex.
At the time, Imali was unaware of the significance of the test and complied, not fully understanding the psychological toll it would later take. She vividly recalled how she had to remove her clothes, an experience that left her feeling deeply violated. The ordeal was not only emotionally distressing for Imali but also had lasting repercussions for her mother, who became seriously ill shortly after hearing about the test, eventually leading to her death.
Imali, who had recently begun to make a name for herself in athletics, expressed her frustration over the regulations that subjected her to such a traumatic experience. “These tests affect someone very badly unless you have a very strong mindset,” she said. Reflecting on the situation, she emphasized the importance of training over innate physiological differences, pointing out that some women with higher testosterone levels have children, debunking the myth that elevated testosterone automatically leads to better athletic performance.
World Athletics has long debated how to regulate athletes with DSD, aiming to create fairness in the sport. Initially, the organization introduced sex verification tests for female athletes, but this policy shifted over time, particularly after high-profile cases like Caster Semenya. In 2023, the regulations were updated, lowering the testosterone limit for athletes with DSD to 2.5 nmol/L, furthering the controversy surrounding the issue.
The complex issue of DSD in sports raises important questions about fairness, human rights, and the treatment of athletes. Imali’s story highlights the emotional cost of these regulations, shining a light on the struggles that many athletes face in navigating the often invasive and controversial testing processes.
