Much of what you read here on this site is my attempt to translate the research I’m interested in, and which can be applied to the real world, in a way that makes it more “palatable” to you. This post, however, summarizes some of the “source” research, the scientific articles that I’ve had published in the last 12 months, for those wanting to see the academic side of the discussions we have.
African running
The Caster Semenya debate
Caster Semenya won the Monaco 800m in 1:55.33, at a canter, and is the surest bet for gold in Rio 2016. She’s also the surest bet for controversy, and will kick start an explosive, aggressive debate. This post introduces some of the concepts, and addresses some issues around our approach to this difficult issue.
Hyperandrogenism and women vs women vs men in sport: A Q&A with Joanna Harper
Caster Semenya’s likely gold medal in Rio is going to be one of the most controversial stories of the Games, if not the history of the Olympics. She is, unwillingly, the known image of a sex-verification controversy in sport, asking questions over whether a woman should compete against other women. In this piece, I interview Joanna Harper, an expert on matters of transgender science and performance, for her comprehensive views
Interview with Renee Anne Shirley
Renee Anne Shirley is one of the world’s leading anti-doping experts. Also a whistleblower who shed light on lax anti-doping practices in Jamaica, she shares her thoughts on the IAAF, WADA and IOC in an unedited interview. She offers fascinating insights on the origins of the problem, and the way forward.
A no-good week for doping in sport
A bad week for doping, with allegations against Salazar and Rupp, and the suspension of the UCI/WADA case against Roman Kreuziger. Some brief thoughts on why, and what it means for anti-doping’s ever steepening road.