The world swimming association FINA has severely restricted the participation of transgender athletes in its competitions, and the world cycling association has also tightened its rules. Other sports could also adopt new guidelines: football and athletics announced that they would review their regulations.
At the request of the sports show, a FIFA spokesman announced on Monday (June 22, 2022) that the world association was in a consultation process about a new guideline. “FIFA is currently reviewing its gender eligibility policy in consultation with expert stakeholders”, said the spokesman. Because the review is still ongoing, it is not possible to comment on the details of changes to the existing regulations.
Puberty and testosterone levels also decisive in football?
The English newspaper “The Times” quoted a source from FIFA circles that a “scientifically based” solution was being sought. “We will be looking very closely at the new FINA rules and it may well be that male puberty and/or testosterone levels will be the deciding factor”, the FIFA source said, according to The Times. Such decisions are currently being made on a case-by-case basis, according to FIFA on the sports show, “taking into account FIFA’s clear commitment to respecting human rights”.
The world swimming federation FINA decided at its congress on Sunday that transgender athletes can only take part in women’s competitions if they have completed their gender reassignment by the age of twelve or if they have not passed a certain part of male puberty stage – whichever occurs later. FINA has also set up a working group to work on a so-called “open” competition category.
The world cycling association UCI tightened its rules last Friday and decided to extend the transition period for gender reassignment from 12 to 24 months and to lower the maximum permissible testosterone level from 5 to 2.5 nanomoles per liter of blood.
Athletics: Coe says he prefers ‘fairness’ to inclusion
Sebastian Coe, president of the World Athletics Federation, hinted at a rule similar to that in swimming that largely prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s competitions.
British sports official Sebastian Coe
“My responsibility is to protect the integrity of women’s sport and we take that very seriously. And if that means we have to make adjustments to the protocols in the future, then we will.”Coe said in Budapest as part of the swimming world championships. “And I’ve always made it clear that if we’re ever pushed into a corner where we have to make a judgment about fairness or inclusion, I’ll always swing to the side of fairness.”
Transgender athletes are currently allowed to compete in women’s competitions if they can demonstrate a testosterone level of less than 5 nanomoles per liter of blood for 12 months. Coe praised FINA for their decision and reiterated that he did too “Testosterone a key factor in performance” is. A discussion in the association’s council is scheduled for the end of the year, he added.
Fairness for some – exclusion for others
The main criticism of transgender athletes participating in women’s competitions is that they can have physical advantages by competing in women’s sports.
However, there is no consensus that it is fairer – as suggested by Coe – to effectively exclude transgender athletes from competitions. The Olympic Charter states: “Playing sport is a human right. Everyone must have the opportunity to play sport without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit.” Trans people often experience exclusion and discrimination in their everyday lives, as does swimmer Lia Thomas. The debate was partly sparked by her. She says: “I’m a woman like everyone else on the team.”
Anne Lieberman, director at the LGBTQ organization Athlete Ally, shared: “FINA’s new accreditation criteria are deeply discriminatory, harmful, unscientific.” Part of the reasoning behind encouraging transgender athletes to compete in women’s competitions is that an advantage always comes from physical characteristics, no matter what gender you’re born.
IOC: No general rule for sport
IOC President Thomas Bach said there will be no one-size-fits-all solution for sport. In November, the IOC decided on framework conditions that suggested more flexibility for the international federations of the individual sports.