MANCHESTER, England 鈥 World soccer鈥檚 governing body International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and World Athletics said on Monday that they are reviewing their transgender eligibility policies after swimming passed new rules that restrict transgender participation in women鈥檚 events.
On Sunday, swimming鈥檚 world governing body International Swimming Federation (FINA) voted to restrict the participation of transgender athletes in elite women鈥檚 competitions and create a working group to establish an 鈥渙pen鈥 category for them in some events as part of its new policy. The new policy states that male-to-female transgender swimmers (transgender women) are eligible to compete in women鈥檚 competitions only if 鈥渢hey can establish to FINA鈥檚 comfortable satisfaction that they have not experienced any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 (of puberty) or before age 12, whichever is later.鈥
A spokesperson for FIFA told Reuters it was in a consultation process over a new policy.
鈥淔IFA is currently reviewing its gender eligibility regulations in consultation with expert stakeholders,鈥 said the spokesperson.
鈥淒ue to the ongoing nature of the process, FIFA is not in a position to comment on specifics of proposed amendments to the existing regulations,鈥 the spokesperson added.
Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, told the BBC that the organization鈥檚 council would discuss their regulations at the end of the year.
Coe praised FINA for taking the decision, which has been criticized by trans rights advocates.
鈥淲e see an international federation asserting its primacy in setting rules, regulations and policies that are in the best interest of its sport,鈥 he told the BBC.
鈥淭his is as it should be. We have always believed that biology trumps gender and we will continue to review our regulations in line with this. We will follow the science.
鈥淲e continue to study, research and contribute to the growing body of evidence that testosterone is a key determinant in performance, and have scheduled a discussion on our regulations with our council at the end of the year,鈥 he added.
FIFA said it was taking guidance from medical, legal, scientific, performance and human rights experts and also the position of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
鈥淪hould FIFA be asked to verify the eligibility of a player before the new regulations will be in place, any such case will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, taking into account FIFA鈥檚 clear commitment to respect human rights,鈥 the spokesperson said.
Last year, the IOC issued a 鈥渇ramework鈥 on the issue, leaving eligibility decisions up to individual sports bodies, but adding that 鈥渦ntil evidence determines otherwise, athletes should not be deemed to have an unfair or disproportionate competitive advantage due to their sex variations, physical appearance and/or transgender status.鈥
World Athletics鈥 current rules cap testosterone levels at five nanomoles per liter for transgender athletes and for competitors with differences in sex development (DSD) in some women鈥檚 running events.
Coe said it was important to protect the integrity of women鈥檚 sport.
鈥淲hen push comes to shove, if it鈥檚 a judgement between inclusion and fairness, we will always fall down on the side of fairness 鈥 that for me is non-negotiable.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 have a generation of young girls thinking there is not a future for them in the sport. So we have a responsibility… maintaining the primacy and the integrity of female competition is absolutely vital,鈥 he added.
Last week, the International Cycling Union (UCI) tightened its rules on transgender participation by increasing the transition period on low testosterone to two years and reducing the maximum permitted testosterone level. 鈥 Reuters
