Sport (UK)

Section 19 of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 states that even if a trans person has a GRC sporting
bodies may prohibit or restrict participation as a competitor in gender-restricted sporting events if
necessary to ensure fair competition or the safety of competitors.

A sport is „gender-affected‟ if the physical strength, stamina or physique of people (average) of one
gender would put them at an advantage to people (average) of the opposite gender.

Sports clubs and centres should still respect your chosen gender; it is simply your ability to compete
that may be hindered by being trans!

Relevant section of the GRA:

19 Sport
(1) A body responsible for regulating the participation of persons as competitors in an event or
events involving a gender-affected sport may, if subsection (2) is satisfied, prohibit or restrict
the participation as competitors in the event or events of persons whose gender has become
the acquired gender under this Act.
(2) This subsection is satisfied if the prohibition or restriction is necessary to secure—
(a)fair competition, or
(b)the safety of competitors,
at the event or events.
(3) “Sport” means a sport, game or other activity of a competitive nature.
(4) A sport is a gender-affected sport if the physical strength, stamina or physique of average
persons of one gender would put them at a disadvantage to average persons of the other
gender as competitors in events involving the sport.
(5) This section does not affect—
(a)section 44 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65) (exception from Parts 2 to 4 of that
Act for acts related to sport), or
(b)Article 45 of the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/1042 (N.I.
15)) (corresponding provision for Northern Ireland).

Provision of Services

A service provider such as a sports centre or sports club must not discriminate against, harass or
victimise a trans person requiring a service. (Equality Act 2010 Section 29) No GRC is required for
this protection, only an intention to transition/the act of transitioning/having transitioned. See
exception below for single-sex services.

Single-sex services

A service provider should not discriminate against a trans person in the provision of single-sex
services (e.g. toilets and changing rooms). (Equality Act 2010 Schedule 3, Part 1, Paragraph 28)

The only time in which such discrimination would be lawful is if it is a „proportionate means of
achieving a legitimate aim‟. (See note in legal section regarding this proviso.)

Stockholm Consensus
[http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_905.pdf]
In 2003 the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Medical Commission set out the following
recommendations for the participation of trans people in Olympic sport:
 Trans people who have undergone „sex reassignment‟ before puberty are to be regarded as
eligible to compete according to their gender identity.
 Trans people who have undergone „sex reassignment‟ after puberty must satisfy the following
criteria so as to be eligible to compete according to their gender identity:
1. „Surgical anatomical changes have been completed, including external genitalia
changes and gonadectomy.‟
2. „Legal recognition of their assigned sex has been conferred by the appropriate official
authorities.‟
3. „Hormonal therapy appropriate for the assigned sex has been administered in a
verifiable manner and for a sufficient length of time to minimise gender-related
advantages in sport competitions.‟