Dutee failed test conducted to check androgen level: SAI

New Delhi: Seeking to put an end to the controversy around sprinter Dutee Chand, Sports Authority of India today confirmed that the the athlete had failed the test that was conducted to check the level of androgen in her body.

"We have conducted such a test on one athlete. For confidentiality protocol, the name cannot be disclosed. She will not be allowed to compete in the female category. The test simply tells us that she has excess androgen in her body and is therefore not eligible to compete in the female category," SAI said in a statement. Dutee Chand`s last-minute exclusion from the Indian athletics team for the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games yesterday led to speculation over the outcome of the test she reportedly underwent recently in Bangalore. There were speculations that she had undergone a gender test but SAI "reiterated that these test results do not determine her gender". "SAI has conducted this test following regulations set by international sport organisations like the IAAF and the IOC for governing eligibility of females with hyperandrogenism to compete in the women`s competition. "We have simply followed the guidelines provided by the IAAF and the IOC. This test does not determine the athlete`s gender," SAI said. AFI though had yesterday said that Dutee was not picked for the CWG as she did not reach the qualifying standard prescribed by it during the National Inter-State Meet in Lucknow in June for taking part in the Games. "IOC and the IAAF have banned gender-verification tests. We are therefore simply trying to find out if the athlete has excess androgen in her body. "If the test results say she is ineligible to compete in the women`s competition, that indicates, she has excess androgen than what is specified by the Medical Commission of the IAAF or by the Medical board that helped create the `Standard Operative Procedure to identify circumstances (Female Hyperandrogenism) in which a particular sports person will not be eligible to participate in competition in the female category` in India," SAI further said. The sports body though left the door open for Dutee to compete in future, courtesy taking medical help. The athlete will still be able to compete in the female category in future if she takes proper medical help and lowers her androgen level to the specified range."