Over the past four years, international federations of different sports have adopted different criteria on the participation of transgender women in competitions.
The hardest restricted participation only to those who have completed the gender transition process before undergoing male puberty, which usually occurs around the age of 12. The requirement contradicts the recommendation of the WPAT (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) that the transition does not occur before 14 years.
They also require athletes to maintain testosterone levels in the bloodstream below a given level, usually around 2.5 nmol/L (nanomoles per liter), considered compatible with the average of cis women.
The movement began from the guideline published by the CoSi (International Olympic Committee) in November 2021, which changed the understanding of the Olympic Committee on the participation of trans athletes in the Olympic Games.
Coi’s first rule about mid -2004, when the participation of trans athletes at the Olympics was authorized, since they underwent sexual reassignment surgery and were undergoing “verifiable way and sufficient time to minimize gender -related advantages in sports competitions”.
During the term of the rule, no TRI athlete participated in the Games in Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and London (2012).
In November 2015, the IOC has slowed the standards. From then on, trans athletes no longer needed surgery, but were required to maintain a testosterone level of up to 10 NMOL/L in the 12 months prior to competition.
A doctor and endocrinology teacher, Leonardo Alvares explains that this level was adopted at the time based on the lowest level of testosterone usually found among men.
At the Tokyo Games, the first trans athlete made his debut at Olympics with New Zealand Laurel Hubbard in weightlifting.
About three months after the event in Japan, with no studies that definitively attested to the limits to be followed in general, the IOC chose to release each federation to adopt their own criteria.
The first to disclose new rules was the World Aquatics (International Swimming Federation). In June 2022, the entity announced that trans women could only participate in competitions in the female category if they had made the gender transition before male puberty.
“This is unreal. At 10, 11 years old, many people still have no idea about transgenderity,” said Alvares, adding that it is also necessary to take into account access often restricted to puberty blockers. In Brazil, the CFM (Federal Council of Medicine) prohibits hormonal block for gender change in children and adolescents.
The Swimming Federation has also required trans athletes to maintain testosterone level less than 2.5 NMOL/L. According to Alvares, more compatible with the average of cis women, around 3 nmol/l.
The World Aquatics decision was announced amid controversy involving swimmer Lia Thomas. In March 2022, she became the first trans winning TRI for NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), an association responsible for major university competitions in the United States.
The 25 -year -old swimmer began the transition process in mid -2019 and, under the new rules, was prohibited from competing in the women’s category and competing for selectives for Paris games.
An appeal was presented to the CAS (arbitral cut of sport), claiming that the rule was discriminatory and violated fundamental rights, but the appeal was denied.
Lawyer of Ambiel Advogados specializes in sports law and entertainment, Mariana Araújo stated that Lia Thomas’s case represents relevant legal framework.
She explains that CAS rejected the appeal without evaluating the merit of the matter, arguing that the swimmer had no legitimacy to contest the policy because she was not a member of USA Swimming (United States Swimming Association) at the time of the action.
“Although the decision has not analyzed the rule in depth, it demonstrates that such impositions can be brought to arbitration or judicial instances. This indicates that, legally, the issue is not yet pacified and makes room for future further analyzes,” said Mariana.
In March and July 2023, it was the turn of World Athletics (athletics) and UCI (cycling), respectively, follow the same line, also vetoing athletes who passed the male puberty.
UCI’s decision came two months after cyclist Austin Killips became the first trans athlete to win a race of the entity. At the same time, the Cycling Federation began to allow in the male category any athlete not eligible to female.
“As more evidence becomes available, we will review our position, but we believe that the integrity of the female category in athletics is paramount,” the president of the World Athletics, Sebastian Coe said at the time.
In August 2023, the FIDE (International Chess Federation), the International Chess Federation, was surprised by also vetoing the participation of trans athletes, even if it is a modality in which the alleged physical advantages would have, in theory, less weight.
“Transgender legislation is rapidly developing in many countries and many sports entities are adopting their own policies. Fide will monitor these developments and analyze how we can apply them to the world of chess. Two years is a timely deadline for complete analysis of such developments,” the chess Federation at the time.
The FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) was on a different path. From 2021, the International Federation delegated that each National Volleyball Confederation would establish its own criteria.
In June 2022, the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV) announced its new policy, establishing as a limit of testosterone below 5 NMOL/L – if the recommendation of the Fheses (International Sports Medicine Federation) – in the 12 months prior to competition and during the participation in the women’s category.
In early May, player Tifanny Abreu became the first athlete trans champion of the female volleyball superleague. The athlete’s testosterone level is usually around 0.2 nmol/l.
In January 2025, the World Triathlon (International Triatlo Federation) innovated by creating an open age category, replacing the male category with age group. In the new category, the participation of all athletes is released without restrictions.
For trans athletes who want to compete in the female category, it is necessary to participate in proofs of the category opened by age for three years, as well as proving the maintenance of testosterone up to 2.5 NMOL/L in the last four years.
They also need to collaborate with academic research to contribute to the development of related studies.
Most federations, however, have not yet adopted specific policies for trans athletes.
In football, for example, FIFA (International Football Federation) understands that it is necessary to wait until a case in sport forces her to adopt a position, or until more consolidated studies on the subject are.
Rules of international federations for the participation of trans athletes
Swimming
World Aquatics, jun.2022
– They cannot have gone through male puberty;
– Testosterone level of less than 2.5 NMOL/L from 12 years old.
Volleyball
CBV, out.2022
– Written statement attesting to female gender identity for a minimum period of four years;
– Testosterone level less than 5 nmol/L in the 12 months prior to competition.
Athletics
World Athletics, mar.2023
– They cannot have gone through male puberty;
– Testosterone level of less than 2.5 NMOL/L from 12 years old.
Remo
World Rowing, fev.2023
-Sande eligible to the female category only athletes designated with females at birth.
Cycling
UCI, Jul.2023
– They cannot have gone through male puberty.
Weightlifting
IPF, ago.2023
– Written statement attesting to female identity for four years, with a valid passport corresponding;
– Testosterone level equal to or less than 2.4 nmol/L in the 12 months prior to the competition.
Tennis
ITF, Dec.2024
–Declaration in writing attesting female gender identity;
– Testosterone level of less than 2.5 nmol/L in 24 months prior to competition.
Triathl
World Triathlon, jan.2025
– Written statement attesting female gender identity;
– Participation in tests in the category opened by age group in the previous three years;
– Testosterone level of 2.5 nmol/L or less in the 48 months prior to competition;
– Collaboration in academic research to contribute to the development of related studies.
