TRANSSEXUAL PERSONS IN INTERNATIONAL SPORT COMPETITIONS

Abstract

Contemporary sport activities should be without any doubt inclusive and discrimination free, what leads to inclusion of transsexual athletes in various levels of sport activities, from intercollegiate to Olympic competitions. The author identified three periods, first when male or intersex intruders illegally entered in women’s competition, second, when strict sex control was exercised with intention to eliminate unfair advantages in women’s sports, and the third one, when transwomen are accepted in world of sport. Namely, for the International Olympic Committee, a transwoman is considered as a woman if surgical anatomical changes have been completed, including external genitalia changes and gonadectomy. Hormonal therapy appropriate for the assigned sex has been administered in a verifiable manner and for a sufficient length of time to minimize gender-related advantages in sport competitions, no sooner than two years after gonadectomy. Legal recognition of her assigned sex has been conferred by the appropriate official authorities. The author expressed her concerns regarding possibilities of eliminating biological women from sports by transwomen and production of “modern time eunuchs” motivated by individual sport glory and financial gains, as well as interest of some states without scruples to produce sport champions by all means.