IOC is committed to inclusion across the Olympic Movement

The IOC is committed to inclusion across the Olympic Movement. In this spirit, we aim to develop guidance to help ensure that athletes – regardless of their gender identity and/or sex characteristics – can engage in safe and fair competition.

Over the years, this topic has been informed by new developments, data, research, and learnings in the scientific and human rights sectors. A number of cases have also been highlighted through proceedings in arbitration courts.

Recognising that there is a perceived tension between fairness/safety and inclusion/non-discrimination, and in consideration of the latest developments on many fronts, the IOC has decided to work on a comprehensive and rights-respecting approach to address the complexity of this issue.

To that effect, the IOC has developed a process of consultations to consider not only medical, scientific and legal perspectives, but also that of human rights, with an emphasis on the view and experiences of affected athletes.

In this regard, the objective is to explore how the athlete community understands and experiences fairness in competition more broadly, and in contexts other than those including gender identity and/or sex characteristics. The objective is also to ensure that any solutions that are explored, are grounded on the realities and leading practices of each sport.

This consultation process will inform the development of a framework of voluntary guidelines which will acknowledge the differences that exist between sports, and encourage each International Federation to find suitable mechanisms, policies, and approaches to ensure inclusion, non-discrimination, fairness, proportionality, and safety for all athletes.

The IOC framework will be subject to periodic review in order to take account of relevant developments in the area, in consultation with all stakeholders concerned.