There has been ongoing debate in recent years about trans athletes competing at an elite level. (Getty)
One of the candidates running for president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering a “total ban on transgender women from competing in women’s Olympic events” if elected.
Sir Sebastian Coe, organizer of the 2012 London Olympics, has released a manifesto pledging to introduce “science-based policies that protect categories of women”.
told Sky NewsLord Coe said: “Athletes, sports scientists, national Olympic committees and international federations, with a clear and well-defined policy.”
Lord Coe, who has won four Olympic medals in middle-distance running, has led World Athletics since 2015.
It was under Lord Coe that World Athletics took a stand last year restricting the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports and tightening rules for athletes with gender development differences.
He said: “As you know, we have been leading the way in world athletics and I think that principle is very clear to me.”
“But if there is a vacuum in this policy position, we will end up with something like what we witnessed in Paris.”
This was clearly a reference to Imane Kherifu, who won women’s boxing gold at the summer Olympics in Paris and was at the center of controversy over her eligibility despite being a cisgender woman.
Lord Coe also said the policy proposed to the IOC would be similar to that introduced in World Athletics, which is the policy “currently adopted by many international federations, including swimming”. added.
“We are clear that at World Athletics, transgender athletes will not compete in the elite-level women’s categories.”
This is despite the fact that Lord Coe has previously championed transgender participation at local level. In January, he argued that trans athletes should not be denied the “mental and physical” benefits of participating in community sporting events.
“The transgender issue is still in its infancy,” he said. [an] Elite level.”
Lord Coe is not the only IOC presidential candidate to propose a policy that calls for a complete ban on transgender women from high-level sports competition, as Spanish investor Juan Antonio Samaranch, who currently serves as IOC vice-president, said: There is. It is a fundamental duty to protect women’s sport. ”
A second British candidate, Johan Elias, also told the IOC to “take the lead” in “establishing a simple and clear policy to ensure a fair and safe environment for all athletes, especially women.” asked to do so.
Eliash said: “For obvious reasons, this is not easy, but we must not forget that the integrity, and even the viability, of women’s sport is at stake here.” . What matters most is not public opinion or general trends, but the integrity and safety of women’s sports. ”
World Cycling President David Lapartiente, who is running for IOC president, said there could be “different opinions” from sport to sport about transgender eligibility, and that this “must be dealt with rationally.” “It’s a complex issue,” he said.
“While we cannot ignore the opinions of female athletes, our decisions must be based on solid scientific evidence,” he wrote.
At least three candidates do not directly address the issue in their manifestos.
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