Hyperandrogenism as a Sports Medical Pathology in the Norwegian Media: The Role of the Mass Media in Creating a Phenomenon

In 2011 and 2012, World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee released eligibility regulations for “Females with Hyperandrogenism,” using the term hyperandrogenism synonymously with intersex variations. This usage deviates from the usual medical definition, which encompasses various medical conditions. Accordingly, the governing bodies constructed hyperandrogenism as a sports medical pathology that requires treatment. Employing discourse analytical methodology to examine 42 Norwegian newspaper and Press Agency articles, this study looks into how the media has contributed to this pathologization. The findings are especially relevant as more and more national and international sport governing bodies will develop their own eligibility criteria for gender- and sex-diverse athletes in the future.