Rules for Transgender Olympic Athletes Explained
transgender athletes have soared in recent years with conservatives arguing against the participation of transgender athletes, arguing it allows for an unfair advantage.
As athletes gear up to head to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France, which will begin on July 26 through August 11, transgender athletes are facing restrictions in some sportsAccording to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which recently updated its guidelines in January regarding the participation of transgender athletes in the Olympic Games, allows individual sports to determine whether trans athletes can compete."This Framework recognizes both the need to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their gender identity or sex variations, can practice sport in a safe, harassment-free environment that recognizes and respects their needs and identities," the committee said.However, since the IOC allowed individual sports to set their own policies on trans participation, multiple sports have updated their policies, largely in relation to trans women.Newsweek has reached out to the IOC via online form for comment.For the Paris 2024 Olympics, the new guidelines require transgender women to have completed their transition before the age of 12 to be eligible to compete in the women's category.
This rule is intended to prevent any perceived unfair advantages that might arise from undergoing male puberty.In addition, at least 10 Olympic sports have restricted the participation of transgender athletes.
These include sports like athletics, cycling, swimming, rugby, rowing, and boxing.The World Athletics and the International Cycling Union have both set stringent criteria that generally exclude transgender women who transitioned after puberty from participating in women's events.
