Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS via Getty Images
- The IOC overturned its policy limiting the levels of testosterone athletes competing in women's sports can have.
- For years, intersex and trans athletes alike have said the policy unfairly targets and blocks them from competing.
- Instead, the Olympics will be evaluating athletes on a case by case basis.
The International Olympic Committee announced it will be lifting the testosterone limitations placed on transgender and intersex athletes to compete in the Olympic games.
The IOC released a six-page document on Tuesday detailing how the original 2015 policy will change.
"Every athlete has the right to practice sport without discrimination and in a way that respects their health, safety and dignity," the new guidelines state. "At the same time, the credibility of competitive sport — and particularly high-level sporting competitions — relies on a level playing field where no athlete has an unfair or disproportionate advantage over the rest."
In 2015, the IOC placed restrictions on trans women that required them to be on feminizing hormone treatments for two years and have a testosterone level that falls below 10nmol/L to compete. The testosterone limit was also applied to intersex athletes like South African Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya, who was barred from running in her preferred event for years.
Moving forward, the IOC will adopt a more case by case approach to determine athletes' eligibility to compete at the games, rather than a blanket rule on hormones.
The announcement comes after years of advocates, scientists, and athletes alike advocated against the previous policies which barred many trans and intersex athletes from competing.
The previous restrictions were based on a deep misunderstanding of hormones, according to scientists and advocates
Previous IOC guidelines required trans and intersex women to undergo medical interventions to lower their natural levels of testosterone. Scientists and trans advocates say the guidelines were based on incorrect assumptions about the power of testosterone.
"What we see is they base their information on myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes about the trans community," Chris Mosier, an advocate and the first out trans member of Team USA, previously told Insider. "They're largely comparing trans women to cisgender men."
The Olympics is scrapping its controversial testosterone limits for trans and intersex athletes
Source: Kalayaan News
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