World Triathlon has approved alterations to the organisation’s eligibility regulations relating to transgender athletes, which will come into effect immediately.

A new age-group open category will be introduced for all genders, with major revisions made to elite category regulations.

Eligibility changes for elite athletes

World Triathlon has retained the four-year eligibility period for full participation by transgender women in the elite female category. However, it has modified the eligibility process to enable continued participation through the four-year term.

Transgender women will also be required to participate in academic research for the final three years of their eligibility period.

Female transgender athletes seeking elite female category eligibility will be required to provide a written declaration of their gender identity and maintain serum testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for the entire four-year eligibility period and beyond.

Furthermore, transgender females will be required to compete in a minimum number of races in the age-group open category during the first three years of the eligibility period before competing in the elite female category in the fourth year. Full eligibility will be bestowed following this period.

Male transgender athletes, meanwhile, can compete in the elite male category by submitting a signed declaration of male identity. There are no testosterone requirements and there is no eligibility period.

Equivalent rules will apply to Para Triathlon, except female transgender athletes will be required to compete in years 1-3 of the eligibility period in the Para Triathlon Male Category as there is no age-group open Para Triathlon category of racing.

Click here for the full revised eligibility criteria for transgender athletes.

A hot topic in sport

The issues of transgender eligibility has been an issue across the sporting spectrum over the past few years, with numerous governing bodies changing their regulations.

World Triathlon has also developed its policy over the last two-and-a-half years. In late 2022, the organisation voted to allow transgender women to remain eligible to compete in the female category – at the time clashing with some national governing bodies including British Triathlon.