IOC Issues New Guidelines on Transgender Athletes

(ATR) The IOC is giving the green light for transgender athletes to compete at the Olympic Games without having to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

The new guidelines were adopted by medical officials at the IOC and are considered recommendations rather than rules or regulations. Despite not being mandatory, it is expected that the world’s sporting federations and other bodies will adhere to them and that they will be in effect for Rio 2016 this summer.

The IOC says the policy change is an attempt to keep in step with changing attitudes on transgender issues. The much-publicized case of 1976 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner undergoing gender reassignment surgery and transitioning to life as Caitlyn brought additional attention to the issue in the past year.

Transgender athletes have been eligible to compete since 2004 but only after surgery and at least two years of hormone therapy. Under the new guidelines, it will be easier for athletes who are transitioning from female to male. In those cases, they will be "eligible to compete in the male category without restriction."

The process is more difficult for those who are transitioning from male to female. In that case, the athlete must use hormone therapy and will need to show that their testosterone level is below 10 nanomoles per liter for at least a year before competing and during the entire time they are competing. An athlete also cannot change their female gender identity for sporting purposes for a minimum of four years.

The new guidelines should be welcome news to transgender athletes like Chris Mosier. The American, who is a transgender man, has qualified for the World Duathlon Championships in June but under the old rules there was some doubt about his eligibility.

Written by Gerard Farek

Homepage photo: Getty

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