IOC Announces New Policies for Transgender Athletes

Transgender athletes no longer need to undergo sex reassignment surgery in order to be eligible for competition in the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee announced updated guidelines regarding transgender athletes earlier this week.

“To require surgical anatomical changes as a pre-condition to participation is not necessary to preserve fair competition and may be inconsistent with developing legislation and notions of human rights,” the guideline document reads.

This update differs from previous guidelines, which required trans athletes to have sex reassignment surgery and hormone therapy in order to compete.

The new guidelines also differ based on gender. Athletes that transition from male to female face stipulations based on self-identification and testosterone levels.

Athletes who transition from male to female must have testosterone levels below a certain point for at least a year before competing, and they must remain below that level throughout the eligibility period in order to compete.

Meanwhile, trans male athletes face no restrictions.

“Those who transition from female to male are eligible to compete in the male category without restriction,” the IOC announced.

The guidelines still require compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) International Standards. 

You can read the updated policy here.