Beijing sets up sex determination lab for Olympics

BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) — Beijing has set up a sex determination lab to test female Olympic athletes suspected to be males.

Suspected athletes will be evaluated from their external appearances by experts and undergo blood tests to examine their sex hormones, genes and chromosomes for sex determination, according to Prof. Tian Qinjie of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Initial test results would be available in three days, while an official result takes seven days, he said.

The test aims to maintain fairness of the Games, and to rule out inaccurate test results.

Experts say test results for about one in 500 to 600 athletes are abnormal.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/27/content_8781161.htm