The IOC has adopted this policy because of the changing attitude of society towards transgendered people, but even transgendered people who have undergone surgery and changed their anatomy can still have an advantage over their genetically male or female competition.
“It has become much more of a social issue than in the past. We had to review and look into this from a new angle. We needed to adapt to the modern legislation around the world. We felt we cannot impose a surgery if that is no longer a legal requirement,” Arne Ljungqvist, ex-IOC medical commission chairman, told AP.
Other officials are promoting the new regulations, saying they are unprecedented.
“I don’t think many federations have rules on defining eligibility of transgender individuals. This should give them the confidence and stimulus to put these rules in place,” IOC medical director Dr Richard Budgett said, as quoted by the Guardian.
The guidelines aren’t mandatory, and are presented as recommendations, but should be applied for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“This is a scientific consensus paper, not a rule or regulation. It is the advice of the medical and scientific commission and what we consider the best advice,” Budgett emphasized.
Previously, transgender athletes had to have reassignment surgery and at least two years of hormone therapy to be allowed to participate in the Olympics.
Until 2000, the IOC had carried out gender verification procedures, which were later dropped as unscientific.
The new guidelines were approved last November, shortly after the emergence of Caitlyn Jenner. It is already believed that they will be applied at this year’s Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.
Source: rt.com
I look at this this way…some women say , “I can do anything a man can do.” If that’s the case why cry when some men may compete against you in sports? I agree its stupid for men and women to compete against each other but, women groups are pushing all are “equal” I say get rid of men and women sports teams. Let there be just teams. May the better person be on the team!
A huge dude literally with mops of hair under his arms will be competeing in womens weightlifting at the next Olympics for Australia I beleive. I thought it was jus America that has gone bat sh*t crazy with all this gender identity c**p. I cant believe the Olympics is allowing this!!
Yet another brick in the wall. A man or men competing in womens oly,pics?????? Women chosen to represent the USA and theen deny their allegiance to the USA. If they do not represent the USA get rid of them. Someone must have something on the Olympic committee to let this obvious wrongness continue, or maybe they are being paid off. Some time in the future there will be a real journalist that will get to the bottom of this stupid fiasco and then it may not be too late to strip those posers of their medals.
Yes, America has collectively lost its mind. There are apparently enough men that don’t quite stack up as men competing with men in olympic materiel that they have to declasre themselves women.
Reducing testerone or eliminating it does not define biologically what a man is or what a woman is. It is nothing but smoke and mirrors medical VOODOO to fool the general public. Wake up America and stand for what is right. Robbing real contestants from competing at the OLYMPICS is a real crime here, Do nothing America and you are as guilty as the Committee.
Everyone forgets Bruce Jenner won his medals as a MAN!!!!!!