The International Olympic Committee announced a new framework for transgender and intersex athletes this week, removing problematic policies that required competing athletes to undergo “medically unnecessary” procedures or treatment.
In the report titled: The Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations, IOC outlined 10 principles, which it described as “grounded on the respect for internationally recognised human rights,” that sports competitions should follow. It also said it will no longer require athletes to undergo hormone level modifications to compete.
The new framework consists of these 10 principles:
- Inclusion
- Prevention of Harm
- Non-discrimination
- Fairness
- No presumption of Advantage
- Evidence-based Approach
- Primacy of Health and Bodily Autonomy
- Stakeholder-Centered Approach
- Right to Privacy
- Periodic Reviews
Important to note however that the new guidelines are NOT legally binding — it’s up to independent sports federations to implement policies — but it replaces the 2015 IOC guidelines indicating testosterone thresholds for transgender women.
“This Framework recognises both the need to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their gender identity or sex variations, can practise sport in a safe, harassment-free environment that recognises and respects their needs and identities.”
The Olympic Committee
“Far too often, sport policy does not reflect the lived experience of marginalized athletes, and that’s especially true when it comes to transgender athletes and athletes with sex variations. This new IOC framework is groundbreaking in the way that it reflects what we know to be true — that athletes like me and my peers participate in sports without any inherent advantage, and that our humanity deserves to be respected.”
Quinn, the world’s first trans nonbinary gold medalist.
“Sports are for everyone, and fairness in sports means inclusion, belonging and safety for all who want to participate, including transgender, intersex, and nonbinary athletes.”
Alex Schmider, the associate director of transgender representation at GLAAD, and the producer of a documentary about young trans athletes, “Changing the Game”.
“The new IOC framework gives guidance to sports bodies on how to draft & implement eligibility criteria which upholds the rights of all athletes — regardless of gender identity, expression and/or sex variations — to participate in sport free from discrimination.”
Chris Mosier, a transgender advocate and the first known transgender man to represent the United States in international competition.
Sources: NBC News & Forbes
