World Sailing approves policy on transgender participation in international competitions

World Sailing held its Mid Year Meeting where it voted to adopt new eligibility rules for transgender athletes.

The Transgender Participation Policy will apply to all World Sailing events - including World Sailing World Championships, Youth Sailing World Championships and Olympic Class World or Continental Championships - and the Olympic Games, including qualifying competitions, and will come into effect from the 1st of January 2025.  

These regulations have been developed following a consultation process that included a survey of World Sailing stakeholders and the establishment of a working group comprising representatives from National Federations, World Sailing Classes, the World Sailing Medical Commission and athletes who are transgender women, cisgender women and non-binary gender.  

In addition, World Sailing sought medical expertise from other international federations, including World Athletics and the International Cycling Union (UCI). 

Under the new policy, transgender athletes will only be allowed to participate in the women's category of an event, or as a female athlete in the mixed category of an event, if they have: 

• Have not gone through male puberty; 
• They can also demonstrate that their blood testosterone concentration has been below 2.5 nanamoles per liter (nmol/L) continuously for a period of at least 12 months prior to the first event in which they wish to compete. 

In addition, transgender athletes must maintain blood testosterone below 2.5 nmol/L at all times. 

Male transgender athletes will be allowed to compete in the male category of an event, or as a male in the mixed category of an event, if they provide a written and signed statement that their gender identity is male. 

Non-binary athletes who have gone through male puberty and seek to compete in the female category of an event, or as a female in a mixed event, must meet the same criteria established for transgender athletes. Non-binary athletes who have gone through male puberty or have started hormone treatment will be able to compete in the male category of an event, or as a male in a mixed event. 

David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, said: "I would like to thank the working group, all those who responded to our stakeholder survey on this issue and the experts we consulted from other sports. I would also like the Board and Council to endorse this decision. Sport's understanding of this complex area of regulation continues to develop and this policy will remain under the supervision of our Medical Commission." 

"We want everyone to feel welcome and accepted in sailing and we have carefully tried to balance inclusion and fairness. 

"I know this news will disappoint some people. However, I hope everyone in our sport recognises that our responsibility as an international federation was to weigh up the available evidence, consider all points of view, and then make decisions in the best interests of sailing."