The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has published a new framework on transgender and intersex inclusion that could lead to drastic change in participation and athlete eligibility.
The new Olympic guidelines—which replace the framework implemented in 2015—suggested transgender athletes will no longer be required to undergo hormone treatments to compete in their respective fields.
However, the announcement has been met with criticism after the IOC confirmed individual sports will still have the final say on how to enforce their rules.
The 10-point document added these cases must demonstrate a "consistent, unfair and disproportionate competitive advantage and/or an unpreventable risk to the safety of the athletes.”
This means trans women could still be prevented from competing in the female category in their respective sports provided organisers can make a valid case as to why.
Keveh Mehrabi, director of the IOC's athletes' department, said in a statement: "The framework is not legally binding. What we are offering to all the international federations is our expertise and a dialogue, rather than jumping to a conclusion.
"This is a process that we have to go through with each federation on a case by case basis and see what is required."
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender woman to compete at a Summer Games when she took to the stage at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
However, despite claiming a silver medal at the world championships World Weightlifting Championships in 2017, the 43-year-old finished last in her group following three failed snatch attempts.
The IOC's new guidelines would also apply to differences in sex development (DSD) athletes such as South African 800-metre runner Caster Semenya, who has been banned from competing in her event since 2018.
World Athletics ruled DSD athletes such as Semenya would be prevented from competing in the 400-metre, 800-metres and 1,500-metre female events unless they take medication to suppress testosterone levels .
Under the previous framework, the IOC recommended trans women suppress testosterone levels to less than 10 nanomole per litre for at least 12 months to compete.
The IOC's medical director, Richard Budgett—who said earlier in 2021 that that policy was no longer suitable—added: "You don't need to use testosterone (to decide who can compete) at all. But this is guidance, it's not an absolute rule."
