New Zealand calls for changes to transgender athlete rules

The move comes after criticism from Olympic athletes that the guidelines ignore the rights of female athletes and undermine fairness and safety.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters. PHOTO: Reuters

Current guidelines issued by Sport NZ encourage transgender athletes to compete in the gender they identify with, without the need to prove or confirm their gender identity.

Minister Bishop said it was important to enable transgender people to participate in community sport, but sporting bodies needed to consider the fairness and safety issues surrounding this participation.

The call comes after Minister Bishop received an open letter from more than 50 New Zealand Olympic athletes, doctors and sports administrators calling for an urgent review of the current guidelines, arguing they undermine the fundamental principles of fairness and safety in sport.

Those who oppose allowing transgender female athletes to compete argue that going through male puberty provides muscular and skeletal advantages that the transition cannot completely erase.

However, advocates for transgender athlete participation argue that there is not enough research on the impact of gender transition on athletic performance and that excluding transgender athletes could be considered discriminatory.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/new-zealand-keu-goi-thay-doi-quy-dinh-ve-van-dong-vien-chuyen-gioi-post315916.html