The Policy Regarding Transgender Athletes in the NWSL Benefits from the Inactivity of FIFA and U.S. Soccer
The Policy Regarding Transgender Athletes in the NWSL Benefits from the Inactivity of FIFA and U.S. Soccer
In 2021, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) introduced a policy on transgender athletes, allowing participation under specific conditions related to testosterone levels. This policy contrasts with global governing bodies for track and field (World Athletics) and swimming (World Aquatics), which have generally barred transgender women based on scientific research.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released its Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and Non-Discrimination in 2021, identifying ten principles for crafting eligibility policies. These principles include inclusivity, prevention of harm, non-discrimination, fairness, and an evidence-based approach. World Aquatics and World Athletics, both international federations, adopted policies restricting transgender women's participation in elite competitions in 2022 and 2023, citing the impact of testosterone on performance.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) issued a position statement in 2022, emphasizing science-based decisions and fairness when making eligibility decisions for transgender athletes. Meanwhile, FIFA and U.S. Soccer remain silent on their policies concerning transgender athlete participation.
The NWSL, the American league for women’s soccer, permits athletes designated female at birth with low testosterone levels to participate. It also allows for transgender women to compete if their hormone levels have been suppressed for a year. The NWSL policy has faced criticism for its reliance on testosterone levels and lack of inclusivity for non-binary athletes.
The enrichment data reveals ongoing debates and contrasting stances on transgender athlete participation across various sports bodies. FIFA, for instance, has generally adopted a more inclusive stance, while U.S. Soccer and the NWSL have faced criticism for their policies.
The NWSL's policy on transgender athletes, introduced in 2021, aligns with FIFA's perspective, as both organizations allow participation under specific conditions. Contrarily, international federations like World Athletics and World Aquatics, following their policies in 2022 and 2023 respectively, have largely restricted transgender women's participation in elite competitions. Jessica Berman, a prominent figure in U.S. soccer, emphasizes the need for science-based decisions and fairness in the handling of transgender athlete eligibility, as stated by the USOPC in 2022.