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'Have found my soulmate': Dutee Chand becomes first Indian athlete to acknowledge being in same-sex relationship

The 23-year-old athlete said she was encouraged to speak about her same-sex relationship after SC’s historic decision last year to decriminalise Section 377 of the IPC.

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Indian sprinter Dutee Chand (Photo: Reuters)
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Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has said that she is in a relationship with a woman she has known for a few years, becoming the first sports star in the country to acknowledge being in a same-sex relationship.

The 23-year-old athlete who was born in Chaka Gopalpur in Odisha’s Jajpur district did not identify her "soulmate" but said she is from her hometown, the Indian Express reported.

Chand said she was encouraged to speak about her same-sex relationship after the Supreme Court’s historic decision last year to decriminalise part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code (IPC)IPC which criminalises consensual unnatural sex.

“I have found someone who is my soulmate. I believe everyone should have the freedom to be with whoever they decide they want to be with. I have always supported the rights of those who want to be in a same-sex relationship. It is an individual person’s choice. Currently, my focus is on the World Championships and the Olympic Games but in the future, I would like to settle down with her,” Chand told the Indian Express.

“I have always believed that everyone should have the freedom to love. There is no greater emotion than love and it should not be denied. The Supreme Court of India has also struck down the old law. I believe nobody has the right to judge me as an athlete because of my decision to be with who I want. It is a personal decision, which should be respected. I will continue to strive to win medals for India at international meets,” she said.

She said that she wanted to be with someone who would encourage her to continue being a sportsperson and also support her on the personal front.

Dutee has fought and won a long legal battle over her hyperandrogenism or elevated levels of male sex hormones. In 2014, Indian sprinter Dutee Chand had become a national champion in the 200-meter race and was preparing for her first international competition at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. She was, however, dropped from India’s Commonwealth Games team after a test found that she fell foul of the testosterone-cap rules. 

The IAAF insisted that the rules were necessary to have a level playing field and ensure that all female athletes can see "a path to success".

Chand decided to fight against the rule and went against the idea of undergoing the invasive surgery or hormone therapy which needed to lower her testosterone levels. Dutee was finally cleared to compete last year after winning a court appeal against IAAF regulations.

She also forced the world body to change its rules to target only middle-distance events, arguing those were most affected by elevated testosterone levels.

She competes in 100m and 200m while the new rule of IAFF cover races from 400m to the mile, including 400m, hurdles races, 800m, 1500m, one-mile races and combined events over the same distances.

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