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Women from the
Global South,
particularly those
from developing
countries, are
disproportionately
impacted by gender
testing in sports.
Vrouwen van de Global South, particularly those from developing countries, are disproportionately impacted by ‘gender/sex’ testing in sports. Historically, female athletes of color have been subjected to heightened scrutiny and discriminatory practices, often facing baseless accusations of being male, transgender or not 100% female.
Over the past week, Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has been the target of a relentless disinformation campaign led by anti-liberal and conservative advocates. Despite her long-standing and unchallenged participation in women’s boxing, without issue, Khelif has been wrongfully labeled as male. As she has advanced in her weight class, these false claims have materialised, with critics arguing that her fight against female competitors amounts to glorifying ‘gender-based violence’.
In recent days, the vicious, pure bad-faith malice of this crusade has been amplified by right-wing politicians and cultural pundits, including Donald Trump, Elon Musk, J.D. Vance, various Republican senators, and J.K. Rowling. These figures have slandered Khelif with inflammatory rhetoric. For instance, Vance described her as “a grown man pummeling a woman,” while Trump vowed on his Truth Social platform to “Keep men out of women’s sports!” The vitriol directed at Khelif became so intense that her father felt compelled to release her birth certificate and childhood photographs in a degrading but seemingly necessary effort to prove that she was assigned female at birth and raised as a girl.
These people who are ideologically invested in the demonization of progress and diversity in sports, achieve cultural relevance by stoking fear and division, irrevocably ruining the careers of numerous women athletes.
A similar pattern of discrimination occurred in the case of South African runner Caster Semenya, who, after winning the 800-meter race at the 2009 World Championships, was sidelined for 11 months due to regulations surrounding hormone levels in track and field.
Semenya has spent years legally contesting the requirement that she suppress her natural testosterone levels to compete, as World Athletics, the governing body for track and field, argued that her testosterone levels provided her with an athletic advantage comparable to that of a man competing in women’s events.
The roots of this dehumanization and objectification can be traced back to the era of chattel slavery, where enslaved Black women were valued for auction based on physical attributes and skills perceived as more masculine or feminine.
This historical context underscores a long-standing racialized gender bias, wherein Black women are often regarded as more masculine compared to their caucasian counterparts. The prevailing definitions of womanhood are frequently grounded in Westernized ideals of white femininity and beauty, resulting in women from the Global South being subjected to heightened scrutiny and accusations when they do not conform to these narrow, white-centric standards.
This pattern of racial and gendered misinformation extends beyond current athletes. Tennis superstar Serena Williams has also been the subject of baseless conspiracy theories falsely alleging that she was born male. In response, Williams penned an open letter to her mother in 2017, expressing gratitude for being a role model in confronting those “too ignorant to understand the power of a Black woman.” Similarly, basketball star Brittney Griner has faced analogous accusations, rooted in the same historical racism that casts Black women as insufficiently feminine, overly muscular, intimidating, or masculine.
This leads us to the question of Black Ownership and Representation in Sports and Sports Institutions.
Black culture has significantly influenced global sports, from style and fashion to music and vernacular. Historically, sports have mirrored the racial dynamics of the broader society, often serving as a microcosm of social struggles. From the segregationist policies of the early 20th century to the integration of sports leagues, Black athletes have fought for recognition and equality. This is exemplified by pioneers such as Jackie Robinson in baseball and Jesse Owens in track and field.
Despite these breakthroughs, and the significant contributions of Black athletes to sports, systemic barriers have persisted, limiting opportunities for Black individuals in institutional and ownership positions – which, in the contemporary landscape, should be representative of a more equitable and inclusive sporting world. The historical exclusion from ownership, executive representation and decision making has had lasting impacts on economic empowerment, and diversity of thought.
Ownership in sports allows for a more authentic representation of Black culture, ensuring that it is celebrated and preserved. It also provides a platform for Black owners to highlight issues affecting their communities, fostering a more inclusive and diverse cultural narrative in sports.
According to a 2023 report by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), less than 10% of executive positions in major sports leagues are held by Black individuals, and ownership is even less diverse. The NFL, where approximately 70% of players are Black, has seen marginal improvements in hiring practices for head coaches and executives but remains predominantly white in ownership and top executive positions.
De NFL’s ownership model is notoriously exclusive, often requiring potential owners to have substantial personal wealth and the endorsement of existing owners. These prerequisites disproportionately disadvantage Black individuals, who, historically, have less generational wealth compared to their white counterparts due to systemic racism.
Moreover, the NFL’s existing power structures, dominated by a majority of white owners, may resist changes that threaten their control. This resistance can manifest in subtle ways, such as limiting the influence of new Black owners, sham interviews under the Rooney Rule or sidelining other Black initiatives. The symbolism of potential ownership must be critically scrutinised against the historic backdrop of the NFL’s embedded power dynamics. Without concerted efforts to dismantle these barriers, the impact of Black representation and ownership may be severely curtailed.
Case Study: Michael Jordan and the NBA.
A parallel can be drawn with Michael Jordan’s ownership of the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. Jordan’s ownership has brought visibility and representation to the league, but it has also highlighted the limitations faced by minority owners in effecting widespread change. Jordan’s influence, while significant, is often tempered by the broader league dynamics and the collective power of majority owners.
Critics have argued that the NFL’s ‘Inspire Change’ initiative is more performative than transformative.
De NFL’s handling of Colin Kaepernick’s protest against racial injustice—resulting in his effective blackballing—highlights the league’s ambivalence towards genuine activism. Jay-Z’s comment, “I think we’re past kneeling,” suggests a shift from protest to actionable change, which is important in the context of ownership.
This example underscores that Black ownership is a crucial step towards equity. True progress requires systemic changes that enable all owners, regardless of race, to have equal power and influence in decision-making processes.
The importance of Venture Capital:
In the VC and entrepreneurial space, Black representation and parity are crucial for a variety of reasons, impacting both financial and non-financial dimensions.
Venture Capital has been instrumental in shaping the modern economy, fueling innovation, disrupting the status-quo and driving the growth of high-impact startups and ideas.
Black Venture Capital [BVC], as an important investment transformative vehicle, therefore has the potential to play a critical role in dismantling the structural inequalities that continue to pervade sports, challenging the dominant narratives of who can compete, and creating an ecosystem that truly reflects the diversity and dynamism of our society.
Economically, BVC can serve as an entry point for greater wealth distribution within the Black community, the diversification of revenue streams, leveraging resources, advocating for policy change and providing a model for budding Black entrepreneurs.
Without capital, great ideas die and innovation sinks.
Equally, the most common way people relinquish their power is by believing that they have none.
The traditional networks that facilitate ownership opportunities often exclude people of color, perpetuating a cycle of inequality. The benefits of Black ownership and representation in sports extend far beyond the playing field. They encompass economic empowerment, cultural preservation, social justice, and ensuring that the cultural contributions of Black communities are recognized and celebrated within sports.
Ownership is therefore a powerful platform, to influence systemic change within a system that has long resisted substantial racial reform.
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