Under the IOC guidelines, when can a transgender athlete compete in their identified gender?

• A. Trans athletes must compete in their birth sex.
• B. Transgender athletes may compete in their identified gender after meeting hormone criteria (e.g., testosterone thresholds) for a defined period.
• C. Trans athletes are banned from competition in all cases.
• D. Eligibility is determined solely by age.

Answer: (B)

Under IOC guidelines, transgender athletes may compete in their identified gender once they have met hormone criteria, such as maintaining testosterone levels within defined thresholds, for a specified period. This approach balances recognizing a person’s gender identity with aiming to keep competition fair by addressing biological factors that can influence performance. Other options would require competing according to birth sex, ban athletes outright, or rely only on age, which don’t reflect how these guidelines address both inclusion and fairness. Remember that specific rules can vary by sport and governing body, but the general idea is to allow competition in the gender aligned with identity after satisfying hormone-related criteria.