"Está absolutamente claro que no sería justo que los hombres biológicos compitieran en la categoría femenina. Además, en algunos deportes, simplemente no sería seguro", señaló la presidenta del COI, Kirsty Coventry.
The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday that only biological women —whose sex will be determined through a single genetic test— will be permitted to compete in the female categories of the Olympic Games.
The IOC unveiled its new policy on the protection of the female category as part of its initiative to establish a universal standard for competitors in elite women's sports, following years of fragmented regulation that gave rise to significant controversy.
The IOC stated that all athletes wishing to qualify for or compete in female-category events at the Olympic Games will henceforth be required to undergo a test for the SRY gene to determine their eligibility.
"Based on scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the presence of the SRY gene is fixed throughout life and constitutes a highly accurate indicator that an athlete has undergone male sexual development," the organization said in a statement.
The IOC had long resisted implementing any universal standard regarding the participation of transgender individuals in the Games, and in 2021 directed international federations to develop their own guidelines. New IOC President Kirsty Coventry reversed that position shortly after taking office in June, stating that the organization would take the lead in establishing a uniform approach.
"At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can make the difference between victory and defeat," Coventry said in the statement. "Therefore, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological men to compete in the female category. Moreover, in some sports, it would simply not be safe."
The new rules are not retroactive and do not apply to grassroots or amateur sports. Until Thursday, transgender athletes had been permitted to participate in the Olympic Games upon authorization from their respective federations. (CubaSí)
