The World Triathlon just announced that trans women are now officially allowed to compete in the female category under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) new rules and guidelines.
Before the ruling, transgender athletes had to comply with the same rules as the IOC. However, in 2021, the IOC published a document stating the regulatory responsibilities of trans athletes in their sports, which diminished the policy’s effectiveness.
The new World Triathlon policy still has its restrictions on how trans athletes can compete internationally. They must have a testosterone level of 2.5 nmol/L for 24 months to get approval, and they must not compete as males within 48 months.
The new policy will take effect in 30 days, which states:
“To compete in the female category in an Elite or Age-Group triathlon competition, a Transgender athlete must demonstrate that the concentration of testosterone in the athlete’s serum has been less than 2.5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least 24 months. Also, at least 48 months must have elapsed since the Transgender athlete has competed as a male in any sporting competition.”
It took a year for the board to consult with human rights experts, sports scientists, and trans athletes.
World Triathlon president and IOC member Marisol Casado said,
“We are a small International Federation, but one that has always had inclusion and gender balance in our DNA,”
However, before the approval, two executive board members of the World Triathlon, namely Vice President Ian Howard and Tamas Toth, president of the Athletes Committee, voted against the policy.
Organizations also do not agree with the World Triathlon executive board. British Triathlons banned trans athletes over the age of 12 from competing in the female category last July and would still be implemented until next year.
There have also been mixed reactions from athletes on handling trans athletes in professional sports.