Lambda Legal Commends IOC for Reaffirming Its Commitment to Fairness and Inclusion in Athletics

Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released its new “IOC Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations.” The Framework comes after two years of consultations with more than 250 athletes and concerned stakeholders and includes 10 principles that national Olympic committees should consider when promulgating policies and regulations concerning fair and inclusive standards for participation at the national level. 

Lambda Legal Senior Attorney Sasha Buchert issued the following statement:

“We commend the IOC for the important step it took today to center fairness, diversity, and inclusion in elite level sport. As we fight trans youth sports bans in states across the country, for the IOC to issue a framework that explicitly rejects the categorical ban on transgender athletes from elite level competition should send a clear message to all those state legislators seeking to impose such bans at the middle school and high school level. 

“It has been conclusively demonstrated that inclusion and participation in interscholastic athletics provides short- and long-term benefits for youth. We agree with the IOC that everyone has the right to participate in athletics free from harassment or abuse and in a way that respects their health, dignity and safety. We look forward to working with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and other national sports bodies to advance the Framework the IOC released today.” 

Read the IOC Framework here.

Information about Lambda Legal’s work fighting trans youth sports bans can be found here and here.