Transgender athletes to be included in Olympics under new unified policy

International Olympic Committee Announces Proposed Consensus on Transgender Athlete Eligibility Criteria

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that global sports leaders have reached a consensus on a new set of eligibility criteria for transgender athletes, with the policy expected to be unveiled within the first half of this year. This would mark the first uniform policy adopted by the IOC and international sports federations, applying to major events in dozens of sports.

The proposed policy is currently undergoing consultation and has been subject to a “pause and reflect” period. According to IOC spokesman Mark Adams, there is consensus among sporting leaders on the need to protect the female category in sport. The policy is expected to severely restrict the participation of transgender athletes who have undergone full male puberty before any subsequent medical transition.

The International Olympic Committee’s first female president, Kirsty Coventry, established a working group in September to explore ways to protect the female category in sport. This group has been consulting with experts and representatives from international federations on the matter.

Currently, different sports federations have their own rules regarding transgender athlete participation, which can vary widely. For example, World Aquatics allows transgender athletes who have transitioned before the age of 12 to compete, while World Rugby bans all transgender athletes from elite-level competitions.

The proposed policy is expected to be announced in the coming months, with details yet to be released.

Source: Al Jazeera