Over 21,000 signatures have been collected for a petition that aims to stop transgender athletes from competing with biological women at the Olympic games.
Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter for New Zealand, qualified for the women’s weightlifting competition in Tokyo this summer. The decision to allow Hubbard to compete has drawn scrutiny on the International Olympic Committee’s rules.
Hubbard, 35, transition eight years ago and since then has met all of the requirements of the IOC regulations for trans athletes and fair competition. The IOC says that those who transition from male to female are eligible to compete in the female category, being that they declare their gender identity as female, and they cannot change it for at least four years. They also cannot change their gender identity for sporting purposes.
Transgender athletes must also be tested for their testosterone levels, and it must be below a specific measurement for at least 12 months before their first competition.
Even with these rules, some within the weightlifting community argue that the policy does not guarantee fair competition. Because of this, the Change.org petition is calling for the IOC’s rules to be suspended.
“The IOC require only that a transwoman has maintained a particular level of testosterone for 12 months in order to compete as a ‘self-identifying’ woman. This completely ignores the physical advantages in speed, height, stamina, and strength that a male-born athlete will have.”
A female weightlifter from Belgium, Anna Van Bellinghen, is likely to compete against Hubbard and shared that the New Zealander’s presence would be “like a bad joke” for women competitors, according to The Independent.
Related
“I am aware that defining a legal frame for transgender participation in sports is very difficult since there is an infinite variety of situations and that reaching an entirely satisfactory solution, from either side of the debate, is probably impossible,” Van Bellinghen has said. “However, anyone that has trained [in] weightlifting at a high level knows this to be true in their bones: this particular situation is unfair to the sport and to the athletes.”
The current criteria, 10 nanomoles per liter of testosterone, is five times more than a biological woman. The petition and those against the IOC’s rules see this as an unfair advantage.
Van Bellinghen went on to share that the situation is complicated and far more complex than some people admit it is.
“Life-changing opportunities are missed for some athletes – medals and Olympic qualifications – and we are powerless,” she said. “Of course, this debate is taking place in a broader context of discrimination against transgender people, and that is why the question is never free of ideology.”
Some have also been extra critical of the IOC’s decision on this following the suspension of Sha’Carri Richardson for testing positive for the use of Marijuana, not allowing swim caps for athletes with natural Black hair, and other decisions they have made in the past few months.
Donald Trump Jr. took to Twitter, letting his followers know his feelings on the situation.
Richardson was reportedly using the substance to help cope with the passing of her biological mother.
The fact of the matter still stands that Richardson violated the IOC’s rules, while Hubbard has followed them all.
For Hubbard, getting the opportunity to compete in the games is a humbling experience and has been working on for years.
“I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders. When I broke my arm at the Commonwealth Games three years ago, I was advised that my sporting career had likely reached its end. But your support, your encouragement, and your Aroha (love) carried me through the darkness.
“The last eighteen months have, shown us all that there is strength in kinship, in community, and in working together towards a common purpose. The mana of the silver fern comes all of you and I will wear it with pride.”