World Triathlon has approved revisions to its August 2022 Eligibility Regulations for Transgender Athletes – with these changes effective immediately.
The August 2022 policy does allow racing opportunities for trans women in elite or age-group triathlon. Although, the revised regulations introduce a new age-group open category, replacing the existing age-group men’s category.
This new age-group open category will apply to athletes competing in all World Triathlon and Continental Triathlon Age-Group competitions.
Age-Group Transgender athletes, male and female, can compete in the new open category without any medical or legal eligibility criteria.
The revised regulations retain the four-year eligibility period for full participation by transgender women in the elite female category of the sport. World Triathlon has modified the elite eligibility process to enable continued participation for transgender women in the sport throughout that four-year period and to require transgender women to participate in academic research for the final three years of that eligibility period.
Transgender female athletes seeking elite female category eligibility must provide a written declaration of their gender identity and maintain serum testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for the four-year eligibility period and beyond.
These athletes are required to compete in a minimum number of races in the age-group open category for the first three years, and in the elite female category for the final year, before full eligibility rights are bestowed. Participation in academic research is required for the final three years.
Transgender male athletes can compete in the Elite Male Category by submitting a signed declaration of male identity. There are no testosterone requirements or eligibility periods for this category.
Equivalent eligibility rules apply to Para Triathlon, except that transgender female athletes must compete in the para triathlon male category for years 1-3 of the eligibility process, as there is no age-group open para triathlon category of racing.
All athletes must abide by the anti-doping rules while competing in the elite male, female or para triathlon categories.
Highlights of the revised regulations:
- Retains the four-year eligibility pathway for elite transgender women, with continued participation throughout and the introduction of academic research
- Introduces an age-group open category where transgender athletes can compete, without the need for any legal or medical criteria
- Retains the age-group female category for women assigned female at birth
World Triathlon adds that all transgender athlete information and medical data will be handled with strict confidentiality, helping to preserve athletes’ privacy.
