What does gender test means?

[dshah]

Just came across a news Indian athlete fails gender test (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6188775.stm)

What exactly is gender test (wikipedia has no article on it)

[tonyinabox]

maybe testing what if they use drug or not.

[tonyinabox]

oh. it's gender verify.

she might be a man act woman

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/gendertest/gendertest.html

[T0PS3O]

As the name implies, they test which gender a certain athlete is.

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/gendertest/gendertest.html

If a man has an op to become a woman he/she can't compete as a female athlete because he/she would have an unfair advantage.

Tony Googles/types faster than I do :(

Also: http://bioethics.net/hs/Briefs/?t=1&a=30

One of the most historically controversial tests at the Olympics, however, had nothing to do with drug use or deliberate enhancement. This purpose of this test was to confirm identity - that the athlete who self-identifies as female, is indeed biologically female.

In the early Olympic games, the competitors-all male-walked naked through the gates at the start of the games. It's fair to say gender verification was not an issue. But, after the Olympics were opened to women in 1912, doubts about the gender of certain competitors in the women's events grew in number and exposure, with each passing competition.

[jhnrang]

I was confused too when I heard the news on TV yesterday!!! Still can't figure out what is the matter!
When I saw her running during her silver winning race---I though here is a girl--Lol.

[Pietercornelis]

Another way is when a women takes a lot of man hormones (like those East-German athletes from the Cold War). They effectively got male muscles, which gave them an edge in competing. A hormone test can make sure this doesn't happen anymore.