Global Sports Community Joins Athlete Ally and Women’s Sports Foundation in Calling on IAAF to Rescind Discriminatory Policy
Dear Members of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council:
We the undersigned members of the sports community are deeply troubled by the recently announced regulations that discriminate against female athletes with naturally elevated testosterone that would require them to undergo medically unnecessary interventions to lower their testosterone levels as a precondition of participation in sport.
No woman should be required to change her body to compete in women’s sport.
These regulations continue the invasive surveillance and judgment of women’s bodies that have long tainted women’s sport. They intensify the unfair scrutiny that female athletes already experience and exacerbate discrimination against women in sport who are perceived as not prescribing to normative ideas about femininity, which can include their appearance, their gender expression, and their sexuality.
As Dutee Chand said regarding the last regulation: “I do not wish to see anyone else go through the process that I had to go through or be scrutinized the way that I was. My heart goes out to all the women who are targeted by the new regulation.”
Such discrimination undermines the spirit of sport, and violates the 4th fundamental principle of the Olympic Charter, to which the IAAF adheres:
The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
As leaders in our athletic community, we believe that sport changes the world when it welcomes and empowers all people. What is at stake here is far more than the right to participate in a sport. Women’s bodies, their wellbeing, their ability to earn a livelihood, their very identity, their privacy and sense of safety and belonging in the world, are at imminent risk.
We demand you rescind these discriminatory regulations, and stand with female athletes globally in pursuit of an equitable and inclusive athletic experience.
Sincerely,
Billie Jean King, WSF Founder, tennis
Dutee Chand, Olympian, Three-time Asian Games Bronze Medalist, track & field
Abby Wambach, Two-time Olympic Gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion
Megan Rapinoe, Olympic Gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion
Layshia Clarendon, WNBA All-Star
Meghan Duggan, Olympic Gold medalist, U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey team co-captain
Casey Legler, Olympian, swimming
Lori Lindsey, Olympic Gold medalist, soccer
Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, NCAA basketball player, lead activist in overturning FIBA’s hijab ban
Yael Averbuch, Professional soccer player, Seattle Reign FC
Julia Boserup, Professional tennis player, member of the WTA player council
Pam Boteler, The True Athlete Project, WomenCAN International President, canoeing
Rachel Dawson, Three-time Olympian, field hockey
Sasha DiGiulian, World Champion, over 30 First Female Ascents, Climbing
Josh Dixon, World Cup Champion, two-time NCAA Team Champion, gymnastics
Grete Eliassen, WSF President, two-time Winter X Games Gold medalist, skiing
Suzy Favor Hamilton, Three-time Olympian, track & field
Jessica Fishlock, Seattle Reign FC co-captain
Lee Ford, Paralympian, archery
Katelin Guregian, Olympic Gold medalist, rowing
Laurence Halsted, Olympian, fencing
Erin Hamlin, Olympic Bronze medalist, luge
Mary Harvey, Olympian, Retired NWSL player
Sophia Herzog, Paralympic Silver medalist, swimming
Elena Hight, Two-time Olympian, X-Games Gold medalist, snowboarding
Wendy Hilliard, USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame
Angela Hucles, Two-time Olympic Gold medalist, soccer
Jen Hudak, Five-time Winter X Games medalist, skiing
Megan Kalmoe, Olympic Bronze medalist, rowing
Jaelin Kauf, Olympian, World Championships Bronze medalist, skiing
Patti Kauf, Three-time X Games Bronze medalist, skiing
Hannah Kearney, Olympic Gold medalist, skiing
Phaidra Knight, USA Rugby’s Player of the Decade, World Rugby Hall of Fame
Hedvig Lindahl, Olympian, Chelsea FC Women
Esther Lofgren, Olympic Gold medalist, rowing
Devin Logan, Olympic Silver medalist, snowboarding
Joanna Lohman, Professional soccer player, Washington Spirit FC
Jessica Long, 23-time Paralympic medalist, swimming
Oksana Masters, Eight-time Paralympic medalist, biathlon, cycling, rowing, skiing
Jessica Mendoza, Two-time Olympic medalist, U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, softball
Elana Meyers Taylor, Two-time Olympic Silver medalist, bobsled
Chris Mosier, Team USA Triathlete
Aimee Mullins, Paralympian, Women’s Hall of Fame, track & field
Ashwini Nanchappa, Olympian, track & field
Alana Nichols, Three-time Paralympic Gold medalist, canoeing, skiing, wheelchair basketball
Meghan O’Leary, Olympian, World Rowing Championship Silver medalist
Leslie Osborne, Retired NWSL player, NCAA Champion
Mary Osborne, Three-time Women’s Pro Champion, surfing
Nika Ouellette, Three-time NCAA All-American, track & field
Madeleine Pape, Olympian, track & field
Pinki Paramanik, Asian Games Gold Medalist, track & field
Annie Pokorny, Professional cross-country skier, NCAA All-American
Maya Reddy, Retired Professional golfer
Charmaine Reid, Olympian, badminton
Dawn Riley, Only American to sail in three America’s Cups and two Whitbread Round-the-World Races
Kathryn Roach, World Rowing Under 23 Champion
Toccara Ross, Professional basketball player, SEABL
Angela Ruggiero, Olympic Gold medalist, Hockey Hall of Fame
Bree Schaaf, Olympian, skeleton
Carrie Sheinberg, Olympian, skiing
Collette Smith, First NY Jets female coach
Lyn St. James, Seven-time Indianapolis 500 driver
Anna Turney, Two-time Paralympian, skiing
Brenda Villa, Olympic Gold medalist, water polo
Mary Whipple, Two-time Olympic Gold medalist, rowing
Eli A. Wolf, Paralympian, Soccer