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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6221-586X

Abstract

One of the most significant controversies in elite women’s sport relates to the participation of female athletes with differences of sex development (DSD), as demonstrated by recent Olympic debates surrounding athletes like Imane Khelif and Caster Semenya. Today, a complex challenge continues to evolve at the intersection of DSD and competitive sports, and it requires careful consideration. The central argument of this paper is that DSD athletes are worthy of compassionate treatment grounded in their inherent dignity, and is founded on the understanding of what it means for humans to be created in the image of God (imago Dei). The paper explores the problematic history of sex testing in sports, demonstrating how invasive practices have disproportionately impacted female athletes from non-European countries. Through examination of Jesus’s radical inclusion of marginalized individuals, this analysis proposes that biological diversity reflects divine creativity rather than pathology requiring correction. The theological framework emphasizes that human dignity transcends physical characteristics, biological variation expresses God’s creative design, the church is called to defend those whom society marginalizes, and Christians should resist medicalizing natural differences. While acknowledging that theological diversity exists in this area, the conclusion remains consistent: human dignity transcends biological variation, and DSD conditions represent natural expressions of God’s creative design rather than deviations requiring correction. A Christian perspective should advocate for ethical policies that reflect love and fairness while honoring both the integrity of competition and the mosaic of God’s creation.

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