NOC*NSF: ‘Trans women in top sport have a remaining performance advantage’

After their transition, transvents seem to be ‘a remaining performance advantage’ in relation to CIS women, says chief doctor Maen Moen of the sports umbrella organization NOC*NSF on Friday in conversations with NOS and de Volkskrant. Moen did with a group of scientists – including internists, cardiologists and ethicians, writes de Volkskrant – Research for three years into whether a fair women’s competition can take place when participating in transvrouws. That is not possible in the competitions of some sports, the conclusion is.

The research was done to draw up a directive that can consult Dutch sports associations when they have to decide on the participation of transvrouwen. The guideline, called Guide transpersons in Dutch top sportis not finished yet and, according to a spokesperson for NOC*NSF, appears within a few weeks to a month.

Moen tells de Volkskrant That the scientific studies on which the directive is based shows that, for example, the squeeze force of your hand remains the same after a man has entered transition. “There is also a recent review that shows that, once you have had high testosterone values, you can also reach new protein production more easily as a transwoman.”

He emphasizes that there are also sports in which those differences do not matter – in equestrian sport there are therefore already competitions in an open category that men and women can participate in. “But if we want to consider the inclusion of transvrouwen in top sport, we really have to be convinced that the performance differences are leveled or have disappeared after transition.”

Step -by -step plan

On the basis of the directive, sports associations must therefore make decisions about the participation of transvrouws, because the differences per sport are so great that NOC*NSF is not drawn. However, a step -by -step plan is included in the directive that unions can use to form policy, NOS writes.

This can therefore mean that sports associations will refuse trans women based on the directive. “We are not concerned with dismissing transvrouws. We are in many areas for inclusion,” Moen tells de Volkskrant. “In our guide for recreational sport, amateur sport, inclusion is one.” But with top sport it is different, he says. “There we look at the question: what about performing, and is there an equal playing field like Trans women with CIS women?”

Dartsters

It is a “incredibly complex issue that evokes many emotions,” says Moen de Volkskrant. In March of last year, two dartsters left the Dutch women’s team because they “ashamed” for the participation of teammate and transgender woman Noa-Lynn of Leuven. Whether transvrouwen have a physical advantage over CIS women in darts is debatable. Director of Dartsbond PDC Matthew Porter said that at the time: “There may be other sports in which an appeal to physical differences cuts more wood.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) decided earlier that transgender women are excluded from the international cricket because “integrity” and “safety” of players go beyond “inclusiveness.” Athletics Association World Athletics does not allow transgender women to participate in the women’s competition if they have not gone medically into transition during puberty.

The International Athletics Association already reduced the testosterone limit for female athletes. That ensured that the South African 800-meter champion Caster Semenya-a CIS-Vrouw-was no longer allowed to participate.

Last week, the Dutch rugby association decided, against the directive of the International Rugby Association, that Transvrouwen are welcome in the competition. Under a few conditions: the testosterone value of participants should not deviate too much from that of a CIS woman. “Rugby is a great team sport in which safety, honesty and inclusiveness are of paramount importance,” says Friso Horstmeier, chairman of Rugby Nederland about it to NOS.

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