The IOC had promised to dispel any doubts in due course. This Monday, a webinar is being held for the NOCs. It is of particular importance as it will focus on the implementation of the new policy regarding the protection of the women's category. This webinar will allow the National Olympic Committees to " ask as many questions as they need » on the famous femininity tests that the IOC will impose from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. A welcome initiative, since a number of questions remain unanswered.
"Very positive" contacts with the CNOs
On May 7, following the last meeting of the executive committee, Kirsty Coventry confirmed that this policy would apply starting with the Los Angeles Games, and not to the qualifying events taking place beforehand, to allow all stakeholders time to organize. When questioned about the Olympic Q-Series, Pierre Ducrey indicated that they fell under the purview of… the responsibility of the international federations concerned "namely FIBA, FIVB, UCI, World Climbing, IFAF and World Skate." It will be up to them, for each competition, to decide whether they apply this policy before the Los Angeles Games or for the Games themselves. " commented the IOC's sports director.
Contacts with the National Olympic Committees were very positive towards the IOC's policy “,” added James Macleod, director of relations with the NOCs, specifying that he had “ direct discussions with the CNOSF and certain NOCs such as Norway France and Norway are at the forefront of this issue since in both countries, femininity tests are prohibited by law in this situation.
Who will pay ?
France is the most hostile to this new policy, notably through the voice of Sports Minister Marina Ferrari. She regrets the systematic approach, believing that a case-by-case management, according to the specificities of each sport, would be more appropriate. Even though the IOC denies it, this decision constitutes a form of discrimination between men and women because we're not going to ask all men to prove they are men., she explains to L'EquipeI also ask the question: who will pay for the test? The IOC? I don't think so. The International Federation? I don't think so either. The National Federation? Not that either. The State? No, since it's illegal to conduct genetic tests in France except for medical, legal, or scientific research purposes. Ultimately, I fear it will be the athlete who has to pay, and that bothers me! »
The test only needs to be done once, but This represents several hundred euros. According to the minister, This is also a form of discrimination, especially when you consider the economic difficulties faced by some athletes today. She also questions the support provided to an athlete. who would discover that she carries a genetic anomaly upon receiving her test Last year, some French athletes had to take this test abroad, just before the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool. Ultimately, none of them were able to compete in the UK due to processing delays.
Norway is showing more flexibility. The Norwegian National Olympic Committee welcomed the IOC's decision, and the Biotechnology Council, consulted following the difficulties posed by the policy changes of World Athletics and World Boxing, recommended that change the law that holds the top spot. " Eleven of its fifteen members believe that genetic sex determination tests should be permitted in Norway, even without a medical purpose. A minority of four Council members believe that the current law should not be changed. “,” confided Marianne Aasen, president of the Biotechnology Council, on February 19. It is now up to political leaders to take up the matter.
At the end of May, the IOC updated its FAQ dedicated to the subject by providing answers to several additional questions. This is an opportunity to reiterate that " The policy applies only to International Federations with a women's category ", than " International federations and sports governing bodies will have to establish, as appropriate, the modalities of their respective programs "And to clarify that transgender athletes are not excluded from events organized by the IOC and that they can compete" in the category that corresponds to their biological sex The remaining questions can be put on the table this Monday, to give more visibility to all parties concerned.
