World Triathlon’s changes age group category with transgender policy update

World Triathlon has eliminated the men’s age group category. Men will now compete in the newly created Age-Group Open category which includes transgender athletes who identify as male, female or non-binary. Any athlete can compete in the open category without proof of medical or legal eligibility criteria.

The women’s category is still the Age-Group Female, but has also changed. Reversing the 2022 policy decision, only athletes assigned female at birth can compete in the women’s category. Whichever category an athlete competes in, they must remain in that category for one calendar year.

Four year process to compete as elite transgender in women’s category

Elite transgender athletes are still eligibility to compete in the women’s category. The conditions for eligibility now include a requirement to participate in four years of academic research. Research involves testosterone, physiological, mechanical and performance bio-markers monitoring, participation in a minimum of two age group competitions, and competition in the elite category during year four but in a special category.

The condition must be met during a four-year “cap rule” period. The cap rule also denies an elite transgender woman the option of competing as a male in any sport for a minimum of four years.

After four years of research participation an athlete can continue through the process to meet the other requirements to become eligible. The same steps apply to para athletes with the expectation that they must compete in the elite male category as there are no para triathlon age group races. Elite transgender women must also provide medical history, permit access by Inclusion Officers to their doctor, and undergo an evaluation by the Expert Panel to determine if eligibility has been met.

Requirements to compete in elite male category straightforward

Female elites transitioning to male can compete in the male category by signing a declaration identifying their gender as male and acknowledging that the same doping rules apply.

While there is no requirement to provide legal proof of sex, gender or surgical anatomical changes, the Expert Panel may investigate these areas further. Once an elite athlete has been categorized, they cannot change to another category without first meeting eligibility requirements for the new category.

The policies only apply to races sanctioned by World Triathlon and are retroactive to January 1, 2025. World Triathlon is under new leadership with president Antonio Fernandez Arimany.

When its transgender policy was last updated in 2022, it allowed women with a certain testosterone level over a 24 month period to compete as female. At the time, it aligned with the International Olympic Committee’s recommendations. The rules only applied to international competitions. British Triathlon chose its own path, creating an open category and forbids anyone who wasn’t born a female to compete in the women’s category.

National triathlon federation policies vary

In the US, non-elite athletes are allowed to compete in any category that aligns with their gender identity, no matter what sex was assigned at birth. Its policy relies on self-reporting gender identity. This policy differs for age group athletes competing in World Triathlon races like the Triathlon World Championships, and for elite and NCAA athletes. These athletes must follow stricter rules.

Ironman created an “open” category in 2023, but maintained its men’s category. So far there has been no news on whether British or USA Triathlon will follow suit by updating its transgender policies.