Transgender athletes barred from female category events at Olympics
Only biological female athletes, whose gender has been determined by a one-time gene-screening test, will now be eligible to take part in female
An illustrative image related to: Transgender athletes barred from female category events at Olympics, highlighting key aspects of the story. | Image source: Dawn.com
Transgender athletes barred from female category events at Olympics
Only biological female athletes, whose gender has been determined by a one-time gene-screening test, will now be eligible to take part in female category events at the Olympic Games, the Global Olympic Panel (IOC) stated on Thursday.
The IOC unveiled its new directive, following an 18-month consultation phase, on the protection of the female category as part of its drive to have a universal rule for competitors in female elite sports after years of fragmented control measure that led to senior officer controversies.
The new rules essentially stop transgender athletes from competing in female category events at the Olympics. They had previously been eligible to compete at the Olympics once cleared by their respective federations.
All athletes wanting to qualify or take part in female category events from the LA2028 Olympics onwards will have to undergo an SRY gene test to determine their eligibility.
“Based on scientific proof, the IOC considers that the presence of the SRY gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate proof that an athlete has experienced male sex progress,” the IOC stated in a comment.
The IOC had long declined to apply any universal rule on transgender participation in the Olympics and in 2021 instructed global federations to come up with their own wellbeing directives.
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