Holder of the women’s 100-metre spirit record in India, in 2019 Dutee Chand became the country’s first openly lesbian athlete. When she faced backlash from a few of her own family members following her announcement, she tweeted, ‘Everyone won’t be positive, but some of my family and fans have been supportive and said, “Your life is yours.” So, I haven’t paid attention to the rest.’
Ms Chand was the first Indian sprinter to reach a final at a global athletics event, the World Youth Championships in 2013.
In 2014, she was banned from competing by the Athletics Federation of India after failing a hormone test which found she had unusually high testosterone levels, a condition known as “hyperandrogenism”.
South African Olympic athlete Caster Semenya has the same condition.
Ms Chand’s legal team successfully argued the ruling was discriminatory and flawed at a hearing in March 2015.
The following year she qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics and in 2018 she won two silver medals at the Asian Games.
She currently holds the women’s 100-metre sprint record in India.
Picture Credit : Google
