CeCe Telfer, who identifies as a woman and runs the 400-meter hurdles, was ruled out of Friday's U.S. Olympic trials because her testosterone levels were too high.
The levels are measured per liter, and must be below 5 nanomoles per liter for 12 months.
A person can keep testosterone levels low, according to The Associated Press, by "using an oral contraceptive pill, a monthly injection of a hormone therapy drug or by surgery to remove their testicles."
While I do not think transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in women's events, establishing hard and fast rules, especially on levels of testosterone, is paramount.
That said, Telfer provides the textbook example of the differences between men's and women's competitions.
Telfer, running as a male, was good enough to run for Franklin Pierce, a Division II school in New Hampshire with an enrollment of 2,300, but he was not ranked in the top 200 nationally, and his best time was good enough for 10th in the Northeast-10 Conference rankings.
As a female runner, Telfer won the NCAA title.
Shoutout for the good guys in Blue
Goodness knows when there's controversy involving the police, it's front-page news.
Well, there are more cops doing great things that we never hear about than there are rotten eggs doing rotten things that we all know about these days.
Take Cleveland Police Department officer Bradley Colbaugh, who responded to a routine call for help from a stranded motorist.
According to the department's Facebook page, the young woman, Alyssa, and her 2-year-old son Karson were stranded with a flat tire. Officer Colbaugh noticed that all of Alyssa's tires were in bad shape.
She told Colbaugh she was starting a new job next week and tried unsuccessfully to get assistance with her tires through a payment plan. Colbaugh called his buddy Bobby Wilson, who owns Finish Line Tire & Automotive, and Wilson and his crew went NASCAR pit crew on Alyssa's flat and replaced her other bald tires.
For free.
Way to go Officer Colbaugh and the gang at Finish Line Tire & Automotive.
Obit observation
Scanning the obituaries of the TFP is never a cause for high-fives, but I believe we all have cause to celebrate lives that are obviously fully lived.
Sadly, there were a few obits in Friday's paper of folks in their 20s and 30s. They are gone too soon.
There also was the obit of Kathleen Farmer, who died Wednesday at the age of 96.
Farmer, who lived in Birchwood, Tennessee, was married to Willard for 71 years. Together they had four kids.
She also was a U.S. Marine who served her country in World War II. How cool is that?
God bless, Ms. Farmer, and thanks for your service.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.
Jay Greeson