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The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes

Tommy R. Lundberg Orcid Logo, Ross Tucker Orcid Logo, Kerry McGawley Orcid Logo, Alun Williams, Grégoire P. Millet Orcid Logo, Øyvind Sandbakk Orcid Logo, Glyn Howatson Orcid Logo, Gregory A. Brown Orcid Logo, Lara A. Carlson Orcid Logo, Sarah Chantler Orcid Logo, Mark A. Chen Orcid Logo, Shane Heffernan Orcid Logo, Neil Heron Orcid Logo, Christopher Kirk Orcid Logo, Marie H. Murphy Orcid Logo, Noel Pollock Orcid Logo, Jamie Pringle, Andrew Richardson Orcid Logo, Jordan Santos‐Concejero Orcid Logo, Georgina K. Stebbings Orcid Logo, Ask Vest Christiansen Orcid Logo, Stuart M. Phillips Orcid Logo, Cathy Devine Orcid Logo, Carwyn Jones Orcid Logo, Jon Pike Orcid Logo, Emma N. Hilton Orcid Logo

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, Volume: 34, Issue: 3

Swansea University Authors: Alun Williams, Shane Heffernan Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/sms.14581

Abstract

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and Non-discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations. Although we appreciate the IOC's recognition of the role of sports science and medicine in policy development, we disagree...

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Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
ISSN: 0905-7188 1600-0838
Published: Wiley 2024
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65578
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Although we appreciate the IOC's recognition of the role of sports science and medicine in policy development, we disagree with the assertion that the IOC Framework is consistent with existing scientific and medical evidence and question its recommendations for implementation.Testosterone exposure during male development results in physical differences between male and female bodies; this process underpins male athletic advantage in muscle mass, strength and power, and endurance and aerobic capacity. The IOC's ”no presumption of advantage” principle disregards this reality. Studies show that transgender women (male-born individuals who identify as women) with suppressed testosterone retain muscle mass, strength, and other physical advantages compared to females; male performance advantage cannot be eliminated with testosterone suppression.The IOC's concept of “meaningful competition” is flawed because fairness of category does not hinge on closely-matched performances. The female category ensures fair competition for female athletes by excluding male advantages. Case-by-case testing for transgender women may lead to stigmatisation and cannot be robustly managed in practice.We argue that eligibility criteria for female competition must consider male development rather than relying on current testosterone levels. Female athletes should be recognized as the key stakeholders in the consultation and decision-making processes. 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spelling v2 65578 2024-02-06 The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes 050a482b2c9699d25870b9c591541998 Alun Williams Alun Williams true false 72c0b36891dfbec0378c0d0f7916e807 0000-0002-3297-9335 Shane Heffernan Shane Heffernan true false 2024-02-06 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and Non-discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations. Although we appreciate the IOC's recognition of the role of sports science and medicine in policy development, we disagree with the assertion that the IOC Framework is consistent with existing scientific and medical evidence and question its recommendations for implementation.Testosterone exposure during male development results in physical differences between male and female bodies; this process underpins male athletic advantage in muscle mass, strength and power, and endurance and aerobic capacity. The IOC's ”no presumption of advantage” principle disregards this reality. Studies show that transgender women (male-born individuals who identify as women) with suppressed testosterone retain muscle mass, strength, and other physical advantages compared to females; male performance advantage cannot be eliminated with testosterone suppression.The IOC's concept of “meaningful competition” is flawed because fairness of category does not hinge on closely-matched performances. The female category ensures fair competition for female athletes by excluding male advantages. Case-by-case testing for transgender women may lead to stigmatisation and cannot be robustly managed in practice.We argue that eligibility criteria for female competition must consider male development rather than relying on current testosterone levels. Female athletes should be recognized as the key stakeholders in the consultation and decision-making processes. We urge the IOC to re-evaluate the recommendations of their Framework to include a comprehensive understanding of the biological advantages of male development to ensure fairness and safety in female sports. Journal Article Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 34 3 Wiley 0905-7188 1600-0838 Exercise, sport, sports medicine, sports policy, transgender 21 3 2024 2024-03-21 10.1111/sms.14581 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee No funding was received for this manuscript 2024-06-07T13:58:38.2568630 2024-02-06T11:34:21.8525059 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences Tommy R. Lundberg 0000-0002-6818-6230 1 Ross Tucker 0000-0002-4294-4822 2 Kerry McGawley 0000-0002-1273-6061 3 Alun Williams 4 Grégoire P. Millet 0000-0001-8081-4423 5 Øyvind Sandbakk 0000-0002-9014-5152 6 Glyn Howatson 0000-0001-8494-2043 7 Gregory A. Brown 0000-0002-9928-217x 8 Lara A. Carlson 0009-0000-3526-0652 9 Sarah Chantler 0000-0003-3215-092x 10 Mark A. Chen 0000-0003-3605-2198 11 Shane Heffernan 0000-0002-3297-9335 12 Neil Heron 0000-0002-4123-9806 13 Christopher Kirk 0000-0002-6207-027x 14 Marie H. Murphy 0000-0003-3482-3323 15 Noel Pollock 0000-0003-4660-2835 16 Jamie Pringle 17 Andrew Richardson 0000-0001-7184-5930 18 Jordan Santos‐Concejero 0000-0001-9467-525x 19 Georgina K. Stebbings 0000-0003-0706-2864 20 Ask Vest Christiansen 0000-0001-6115-6314 21 Stuart M. Phillips 0000-0002-1956-4098 22 Cathy Devine 0000-0002-2652-0771 23 Carwyn Jones 0000-0003-0033-8098 24 Jon Pike 0000-0002-2874-1180 25 Emma N. Hilton 0000-0002-3750-577x 26 65578__30567__5e5efd271d644315a291a5e7dd3c5cd4.pdf 65578.VoR.pdf 2024-06-07T13:56:45.1783963 Output 3700626 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
title The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes
spellingShingle The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes
Alun Williams
Shane Heffernan
title_short The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes
title_full The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes
title_fullStr The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes
title_full_unstemmed The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes
title_sort The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes
author_id_str_mv 050a482b2c9699d25870b9c591541998
72c0b36891dfbec0378c0d0f7916e807
author_id_fullname_str_mv 050a482b2c9699d25870b9c591541998_***_Alun Williams
72c0b36891dfbec0378c0d0f7916e807_***_Shane Heffernan
author Alun Williams
Shane Heffernan
author2 Tommy R. Lundberg
Ross Tucker
Kerry McGawley
Alun Williams
Grégoire P. Millet
Øyvind Sandbakk
Glyn Howatson
Gregory A. Brown
Lara A. Carlson
Sarah Chantler
Mark A. Chen
Shane Heffernan
Neil Heron
Christopher Kirk
Marie H. Murphy
Noel Pollock
Jamie Pringle
Andrew Richardson
Jordan Santos‐Concejero
Georgina K. Stebbings
Ask Vest Christiansen
Stuart M. Phillips
Cathy Devine
Carwyn Jones
Jon Pike
Emma N. Hilton
format Journal article
container_title Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
container_volume 34
container_issue 3
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
issn 0905-7188
1600-0838
doi_str_mv 10.1111/sms.14581
publisher Wiley
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
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description The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and Non-discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations. Although we appreciate the IOC's recognition of the role of sports science and medicine in policy development, we disagree with the assertion that the IOC Framework is consistent with existing scientific and medical evidence and question its recommendations for implementation.Testosterone exposure during male development results in physical differences between male and female bodies; this process underpins male athletic advantage in muscle mass, strength and power, and endurance and aerobic capacity. The IOC's ”no presumption of advantage” principle disregards this reality. Studies show that transgender women (male-born individuals who identify as women) with suppressed testosterone retain muscle mass, strength, and other physical advantages compared to females; male performance advantage cannot be eliminated with testosterone suppression.The IOC's concept of “meaningful competition” is flawed because fairness of category does not hinge on closely-matched performances. The female category ensures fair competition for female athletes by excluding male advantages. Case-by-case testing for transgender women may lead to stigmatisation and cannot be robustly managed in practice.We argue that eligibility criteria for female competition must consider male development rather than relying on current testosterone levels. Female athletes should be recognized as the key stakeholders in the consultation and decision-making processes. We urge the IOC to re-evaluate the recommendations of their Framework to include a comprehensive understanding of the biological advantages of male development to ensure fairness and safety in female sports.
published_date 2024-03-21T13:58:37Z
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