World Athletics has undertaken the difficult task of setting competition rules in place to protect the female category in sport. World Athletics leads all sports in this difficult task. Protecting the female category is one of the most complicated issues in sport.
Press release (edited) — World Athletics (WA) launched a consultation process on its eligibility conditions for the female category. It has included the current Differences in Sexual Development (DSD) Regulations and Transgender Regulations (TR). WA also formed a working group to keep aware of developments in science, sports, law and society concerning gender-diverse athletes.
The consultation period started Monday, February 10 and ends March 5, 2025.
The mission is to enable World Athletics to be thorough and considerate about the implications of such developments for its programming, eligibility rules, and educational initiatives as the organization upholds its core commitments to its elite global community.
In the course of its work through 2024, the Working Group learned of key scientific developments. One, that, in light of its core commitments, makes it appropriate to amend the DSD and TG Regulations.
Taking the above into consideration, and the fundamental principle of World Athletics to preserve the integrity of the Female Category, the Working Group submitted the following five recommendations to Council in December 2024 which were approved and are now set for consultation:
- Formally affirm the design of and goals for the Female Category.
- Revise the eligibility regulations so that they are consistent with the design and goals.
- Merge the DSD and Transgender Regulations and, if the effect is to restrict opportunities for DSD athletes, adopt measures to address the reliance interests of those who are currently in the pipeline.
- Adopt a pre-clearance requirement for all athletes competing in the Female Category.
- Consider forward initiatives, including to support elite gender-diverse XY Athletes.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said, “World Athletics is a leader in preserving the female category in sport and one of the first international sports federations to establish clear policies on female eligibility in elite sport.
“While our current Eligibility Regulations for DSD and Transgender athletes are robust and based on the science available at the time of our last consultation, several scientific developments in this field have emerged. Since then, (it is our role), as the global governing body, to ensure our guidelines keep up with the latest information available. This is to maintain a fair and level playing field in the Female Category.
“Preserving the integrity of competition in the Female Category is a fundamental principle of the sport of Athletics. And we look forward to this collaborative consultation process with our key stakeholders in this area.”
Any standing DSD and Transgender Regulations will be implemented with the following standing commitments:
- World Athletics does not judge or question gender identity;
- World Athletics respects and preserves the dignity and privacy of individuals;
- World Athletics strictly observes confidentiality obligations and complies with data protection laws;
- World Athletics never has and never would impose any obligation to undergo surgery.
The full consultation and background, key developments and recommendations to revise eligibility conditions can be found here.
