The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has released new guidelines for transgender athletes.
Transgender athletes will be able to take place in the world’s biggest supporting event under their nominated gender identity without having to undergo surgery.
The recommendations from the medical experts at the IOC are not rules or regulations but guidelines on how major sporting bodies should treat transgender competitors.
The IOC hopes these new guidelines, which will apply at the upcoming Rio de Janeiro games, will encourage more sporting organisations to consider how they treat transgender athletes.
“I don’t think many federations have rules on defining eligibility of transgender individuals,” IOC medical director Dr Richard Budgett said.
“This should give them the confidence and stimulus to put these rules in place.”
Under the previous guidelines, which were issued in 2003, transgender athletes had to have undertaken sexual reassignment surgery to compete.
Under the new guidelines female to male transgender competitors will be able to compete in male events without restrictions. Male to female competitors will not need surgery either, but will need to show that their level of testosterone has remained below an approved level for 12 months prior to the competition.
In a Twitter post Organisation Intersex International Australia (OII) welcomed the news for transgender athletes but highlighted that there had been no improvements for intersex athletes.
Dear IOC, You’re a bunch of idiots if you think it’s a good idea to allow trans men to compete in women’s olympics… From, A female athlete
— Mac (@mac_soccer1) January 25, 2016
IOC relaxes transgender rules: https://t.co/ROmOnNFoFi I wrote @CBMWorg how such shifts hurt women: https://t.co/Q1SrYONmm3
— Jeff Jones (@jeffj0nes) January 25, 2016
Better news for trans folk but no improvements for intersex people in new IOC guidelines on participation in sport. https://t.co/pYiIX8gjEb
— OII Australia (@oiiaustralia) January 22, 2016
@robkroese The IOC: completely destroying itself for the sake of appearing politically correct.
— Christopher Williams (@blueGrassTubb) January 25, 2016
Interesting development in sports! https://t.co/tiH9wIAtAM
— George A. Cooley II (@cooleyg2) January 25, 2016
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