Sebastian Coe, a candidate for President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), plans to explore a complete ban on transgender women competing in women’s events at the Olympics. Lord Coe has pledged to introduce “science-based policies that safeguard the female category.” His proposed policies respond to the growing clamor to keep female sports fair and uninfluenced by LGBT ideology.
Under the current IOC administration, if an athlete’s passport identifies them as a woman, they may compete in women’s sports, and individual sports determine eligibility. Lord Coe’s proposed changes would aim for clarity among athletes, sport scientists, and national Olympic committees.
World Athletics, led by Lord Coe since 2015, has already tightened rules on male-to-female transgender athletes’ participation and those with differences in sex development. He suggested that his proposed IOC regulations would echo the World Athletics policies. These regulations could mean there will be no transgender women in any women’s categories.
Other candidates have also addressed the controversial issue. For instance, Juan Antonio Samaranch’s manifesto emphasizes the need to protect women’s sports but doesn’t provide specifics on gender distinctions. Cycling boss David Lappartient suggests that each International Federation should be guided by the IOC to make decisions based on principles relevant to their sport.
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