A week after the International Olympic Committee announced a new policy on the protection of the female category in Olympic sport, which means that only biological women can participate in the Games, Reem Alsalem, the UN rapporteur for women, spoke out in favor and proposed that transgender athletes receive "parallel medals" retroactively as compensation.
Eligibility for any female category test, which excludes transgender athletes such as boxer Imane Khelif, will come into effect for Los Angeles 2028 and will not be retroactive.
This new policy, championed by President Kirsty Coventry, "is based on common sense, facts and science," Alsalem said, and "restores the dignity, fairness and safety of women and girls in Olympic sport."
This measure restores the dignity, fairness and safety of women and girls in Olympic sports
"I welcome this policy as a necessary, proportionate and legitimate step to ensure the protection of women and girls, in line with international law and human rights standards. Evidence-based approaches, including recognition of the material reality of sex, should guide the development, monitoring and review of sports policies at all levels," Alsalem said.
Parallel medals
"The policy does not exclude anyone from participating in sports or competing professionally in categories that correspond to their biological sex," she said. "Rather, it ensures that women and girls are not harmed or excluded from fair and meaningful competition in their own category."
Ensures that women and girls are not harmed or excluded from fair and meaningful competition in their own category
On the other hand, since it is not retroactive, Alsalem acknowledged that the IOC could offer solutions for past injustices, such as apologizing or awarding retroactive parallel medals.
"Such measures would demonstrate recognition of the harm suffered by women athletes and signal a genuine commitment to accountability and restitution of their rights, including guarantees that it will not happen again," Alsalem said.