In May 1936, a newspaper article in The Western Morning News detailed the gender transition of Mark Weston, a retired female shot putter who had recently undergone sex reassignment surgery to live as a man. This public transition led to the creation of early sex testing policies in sports, as officials were concerned about the integrity of existing male and female categories. Since then, international sports bodies have continued to deny or restrict opportunities for trans and intersex athletes, citing a need to maintain a subjective definition of “female.”
Advocates of sex-testing policies claim they are necessary to ensure fairness in women’s sports by excluding athletes with perceived biological advantages. However, there is little evidence to support the idea that trans women, cisgender women with elevated testosterone levels, or intersex women have physical advantages over other women. These policies fail to recognize the natural variations in human bodies and have excluded athletes throughout history based on arbitrary definitions of femaleness.
Over the years, sports federations have implemented various sex testing methods, including strip searches, chromosome testing, and hormone testing, to exclude athletes who do not fit traditional gender categories. Recent examples, such as Lia Thomas and Maximila Imali, highlight the discriminatory practices that have been used to prevent trans and intersex athletes from competing in women’s sports. As the Tokyo Olympics approach, some federations are enforcing even more extreme policies, further limiting opportunities for athletes who do not conform to strict gender norms.
Mark Weston’s gender transition in 1936 garnered international attention, along with that of another athlete, Zdenek Koubek, who also desired to live as a man after competing in the Women’s World Games. Despite empathy towards their stories in the media, sports officials pushed for sex testing policies to regulate gender categories in sports. These policies were met with criticism for their lack of validity and potential for discrimination against athletes who did not fit traditional gender norms.
The implementation of sex testing policies in sports has been met with backlash from athletes, journalists, and medical professionals who argue that these policies are arbitrary and flawed. The International Olympic Committee has attempted to address concerns about fairness and inclusion but has left individual federations to determine their own policies. Many federations, such as World Athletics, have reinforced restrictive policies that bar trans and intersex women from women’s competitions, perpetuating exclusion and discrimination in sports.
Moving forward, there is an opportunity to rethink gender categories in sports and design policies that prioritize the humanity and dignity of all athletes. Rather than excluding athletes based on subjective definitions of “female,” sports officials should embrace the complexity and fluidity of gender. By recognizing that gender exists on a spectrum and providing pathways for all athletes to compete in their lived gender category, we can ensure a more inclusive and equitable future for sports.
