Girls sue to block participation of transgender athletes

[djg21]

118. Pro Cyling adopts new rules

Last edited Thu Feb 13, 2020, 12:40 PM - Edit history (1)

The current rules stipulate a maximum serum testosterone level of 10nmol/L but, from March, male-to-female athletes will be limited to 5nmol/L and will have to show it has been below the new threshold for 12 months before they are deemed eligible to compete.

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The current IOC guidelines, which set the testosterone threshold at 10nmol/L, have been in force since 2016. Prior to that, transgender athletes had to have undergone sex reassignment surgery as well as at least two years of hormone therapy.

According to the new UCI regulations "All transgender athletes wishing to compete in the category corresponding to their new gender" must make a request to a UCI medical manager at least six weeks before they intend to compete. The athlete’s eligibility will be decided by a panel of "three international experts independent of the UCI".

Those who have transitioned from male to female "must prove that the their serum testosterone level has been below 5 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to the eligibility date". Once deemed eligible, they must keep within that threshold "for the entire time they compete in the Women category" and must undergo hormone tests using mass spectrometry.

Any breach of the regulations can be punished with anything from a "reprimand and warning" to "disqualification and a fine".

Sporting bodies such as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), have argued that females who have natural testosterone levels higher than the average healthy female (0.4 nmol/L to 2.0 nmol/L), and closer to the range of healthy male (7.0 nmol/L and 30 nmol/L), and whose androgen receptors can uptake the testosterone, have an unfair advantage over peers in their category. However, the basis of these findings have been disputed by some scientists.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-halves-testosterone-threshold-for-transgender-riders/

This still doesn’t take into account cumulative effects of a lifetime of higher testosterone before a person begins the process of transitioning. There are physiology differences that result and cannot be undone by a year of hormone therapy. In sports like cycling, the fix may be easier — unisex fields, and prizes for top overall, top male, top female, top transgender athlete, etc.