Monday, May 17,
2004
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Transsexuals were cleared Monday
to compete in the
Olympics (search) for the first time.
Under a proposal approved by the IOC executive board, athletes who have
undergone sex-change surgery will be eligible for the Olympics if their
new gender has been legally recognized and they have gone through a
minimum two-year period of postoperative hormone therapy.
The decision, which covers both male-to-female and female-to-male cases,
goes into effect starting with the Athens Olympics in August...
[more details below]
Sent: 18 May 2004 10:04
To: PFC News
Subject: IOC approves consensus with regard to athletes who have changed
sex
http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=841
IOC approves consensus with regard to athletes who have changed sex
17 May 2004
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today
approved the consensus proposed by the IOC Medical Commission stating
the conditions to be respected for a person who has changed sex to
compete in sports competitions. These conditions will be applied as of
the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in 2004 in Athens.
Consensus based on ad-hoc committee
The consensus ois based on an ad-hoc committee convened by the IOC
Medical Commission that met on 28 October 2003 in Stockholm to discuss
and issue recommendations on the participation of individuals who have
undergone sex reassignment (male to female and vice versa) in sport.The
group was composed of: Prof. Arne Ljungqvist (SWE), Prof. Odile
Cohen-Haguenauer (FRA), Prof. Myron Genel (USA), Prof. Joe Leigh Simpson
(USA), Prof. Martin Ritzen (SWE), Prof. Marc Fellous (FRA) and Dr
Patrick Schamasch (FRA).
Sex reassignment before puberty
The group confirms the previous recommendation that any "individuals
undergoing sex reassignment of male to female before puberty should be
regarded as girls and women" (female). This also applies to individuals
undergoing female to male reassignment, who should be regarded as boys
and men (male).
Sex reassignment after puberty
The group recommends that individuals undergoing sex reassignment from
male to female after puberty (and vice versa) be eligible for
participation in female or male competitions, respectively, under the
following conditions:
- Surgical anatomical changes have been completed, including external
genitalia changes and gonadectomy
- Legal recognition of their assigned sex has been conferred by the
appropriate official authorities
- Hormonal therapy appropriate for the assigned sex has been
administered in a verifiable manner and for a sufficient length of time
to minimise gender-related advantages in sport competitions.
Two years after gonadectomy
In the opinion of the group, eligibility should begin no sooner than two
years after gonadectomy.
It is understood that a confidential case-by-case evaluation will occur.
In the event that the gender of a competing athlete is questioned, the
medical delegate (or equivalent) of the relevant sporting body shall
have the authority to take all appropriate measures for the
determination of the gender of a competitor.
================================
-----Original Message-----
Sent: 18 May 2004 10:01
To: PFC News
Subject: Olympic rules for participation of trans people
Monday, May 17, 2004
Press Association
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Transsexuals were cleared Monday to compete in
the Olympics (search) for the first time.
Under a proposal approved by the IOC executive board, athletes who have
undergone sex-change surgery will be eligible for the Olympics if their
new gender has been legally recognized and they have gone through a
minimum two-year period of postoperative hormone therapy.
The decision, which covers both male-to-female and female-to-male cases,
goes into effect starting with the Athens Olympics in August.
The IOC had put off a decision in February, saying more time was needed
to consider all the medical issues.
Some members had been concerned whether male-to-female transsexuals
would have physical advantages competing against women.
Men have higher levels of testosterone and greater muscle-to-fat ratio
and heart and lung capacity. However, doctors say, testosterone levels
and muscle mass drop after hormone therapy and sex-change surgery
(search).
IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said the situation of transsexuals
competing in high-level sports was "rare but becoming more common."
IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch said no specific sports had been
singled out by the ruling.
"Any sport may be touched by this problem," he said. "Until now, we
didn't have any rules or regulations. We needed to establish some sort
of policy."
Until 1999, the IOC conducted gender verification tests at the Olympics
but the screenings were dropped before the 2000 Sydney Games.
One of the best known cases of transsexuals in sports involves Renee
Richards, formerly Richard Raskind, who played on the women's tennis
tour in the 1970s.
In March, Australia's Mianne Bagger (search) became the first
transsexual to play in a pro golf tournament.
Michelle Dumaresq, formerly Michael, has competed in mountain bike
racing for Canada.
ENDS