The ANOC Medical Commission held a virtual meeting on 28 August with a central item on the agenda: the analysis of gender eligibility testing in sport. Members agreed on the need to review criteria and protocols that ensure both the health and fairness of athletes in international competitions, underlining the importance of having a specialized medical body lead these discussions within the Olympic Movement.
The debate on gender took place in a broader context, which also included reviews of medical accreditation processes, the standardization of documentation requirements, and coordination between committees. The Commission stressed that progress in these areas is essential to guarantee safety, transparency, and consistency in the organization of major sporting events.
Examples of established protocols
Several international sports organizations have already adopted specific policies on gender eligibility. For instance, World Athletics requires transgender athletes who have gone through male puberty to maintain testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L for at least six months before competing in the female category, and they must keep that level to remain eligible in international events such as the 400 m up to the mile. Meanwhile, World Aquatics (FINA) introduced restrictions preventing transgender women from competing unless they can demonstrate they did not experience male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 or before the age of 12; in addition, they are exploring the creation of an “open category” to ensure that everyone can participate in elite sport.
In Olympic boxing, World Boxing has implemented chromosomal PCR testing to verify the presence of the Y chromosome and thus determine eligibility in the female category. This measure, driven by safety and fairness concerns, also includes additional evaluations and an appeals process for individuals with differences in sexual development (DSD), following precedents established by World Athletics.
Regional updates, medicine, and anti-doping
The meeting also welcomed Dr. Olajide Joseph Adebola (Nigeria), representing ANOCA, Dr. Mark Stuart (United Kingdom), representing EOC, and Dr. Alejandro Orizola (Chile), representing PanamSports. All three shared their experience in sports medicine and the Olympic Movement, reinforcing the international character of the Commission.
Regional reports were also presented, covering medical and anti-doping initiatives, as well as the challenges faced by smaller countries in accessing medical resources for their sports programs. The Commission highlighted that standardized protocols will allow all committees to work under common criteria and ensure that athletes receive the same level of care regardless of their origin.
Another agreement was the creation of a Medical Operations Group to support organizing committees in planning the Continental Games. This group will act as a technical liaison to address practical medical matters before and during competitions, in parallel with the development of a communication framework to improve coordination among National Olympic Committees during the Games.
Next meeting after Milano Cortina 2026
Finally, it was confirmed that the next meeting of the ANOC Medical Commission will take place in March 2026, following the XXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, with the aim of reviewing lessons learned and consolidating new lines of work.
