Strict Olympic rules on ‘DSD’ explained as female athlete Caster Semenya refused to take drug in order to compete

One of the most controversial conversations to have been sparked as a result of this year's Olympic Games centres on gender rights and 'DSD' requirements.

And as such, many questions have subsequently been raised regarding the dubious legislation put in place to allegedly make the sporting tournament equal to all competitors.

This year's games have been littered with controversy. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Last week, South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya found herself in the middle of a controversy after she rightfully refused to take a drug in order to compete.

What is DSD?

Semenya is a DSD athlete, which describes a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs, including genitals.

According to the NHS, this case describes when ‘a person’s sex development is different to most other people’s', and could refer to genetics, genitals, gender, or internal reproductive organs which hold male and female traits.

Though Semenya was born legally female at birth, her body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone than women without the condition.

What are the rules at the Olympics?

Frustratingly, however, testosterone limits for female competitors were put into place this year by World Athletics.

This meant that anyone who wanted to compete would have to take testosterone suppressors to bring their levels below 2.5 nanomoles per litre.

World Athletics required the South African runner to take medication. (PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)

This new rule sees the levels halved, as previously it was 5. But there’s another catch.

Athletes need to be below 2.5 for at least two years before competing in the track and field female category.

If an athlete is already competing, they have to stay below the threshold for six months in order to compete again.

The new rules sees an extension of categories it covers as it used to only apply for distances between 400m and a mile.

As such, due to her elevated levels, the South African runner would have been forced to use medication in order to compete.

The two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion refused to adhere to the rules and took her case to the European Court of Human Rights, citing that it was discrimination against athletes with her condition - later going on to win the case.

Despite Semenya's success, another gender-based controversy gripped spectators last week surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, after her opponent - who has since apologised - walked out of the match after 46 seconds.

Angela Carini of Italy threw in the towel, burst into tears and refused to shake Khelif's hand as a result of the loss, being that the North African competitor had previously been disqualified from the World Boxing Championships, after she failed an unspecified gender eligibility test.

Algeria's Imane Khelif was also embroiled in a gender row. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Despite being born female, International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev previously said that the unspecified test reportedly showed Khelif to have the XY chromosome, though has shown no evidence to back this up.

The IBA has been banned by the Olympics since last year.

Another of this year's Olympians, Taiwanese athlete Lin Yu-ting, was disqualified under the same grounds.

Prior to the commencement of this year's games in Paris, however, both the Algerian and the Taiwanese sportswomen received full support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who deemed the pair eligible and stood behind their right to compete.