The Australian Sports Commission this Friday recommended setting limits on the testosterone levels of transgender athletes in select women’s sports, under its new inclusion rules.
These rules are published by Australia’s leading sporting authority, and which are not mandatory because they allow the national federation some autonomywas applauded by some trans athletes.
The document from the government body suggests that in sports where hormonal suppression is necessary to participate in the female category, the level of testosterone -under medical supervision and constant controls- should not exceed 2.5 nanomoles per liter in the 24 months before the competition.
This level – which is within the female range that is “scientifically understandable for elite athletes.”– offers a small “safety” cushion for transgender athletes, according to the “Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in high performance sport”.
Recommended levels are above 1.7 nanomol per literwhich is the level recorded by 95% of people undergoing hormone suppression therapy.
The Commission also clarified that the guidelines for testosterone levels may differ in non-“explosive” sports, where they have more freedom to set appropriate ranges for their discipline, although they should make these measurements public.
Transgender athlete Hannah Mounceyan elite handball player whose bid to join the Australian Rules Rules was rejected, praised the new rules.
“They make it clear that if you want to ban someone, you need to make it clear whyMouncey said in a statement published today by The Sydney Morning Herald.
However, Australia’s rules, in line with those of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), also make that clear the possibility of “some athletes” being restricted or excluded is not ruled out if it is “clearly” shown that they have an “unfair and disproportionate advantage”.
The guidelines also emphasize that anti-discrimination laws exist at the regional and national level, so any decision made by the federations must take into account these legal frameworks.
Source: La Verdad
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