So, I've had moments in the past where I might have spent 30 seconds thinking about this subject but ultimately I don't give a fuck about competitive sports so my analysis usually ends up being, all competitive sports should be banned because competitive sports are dumb. Which is admittedly a neanderthal take.

But yeah, now the global athletic showdown is going down and seemingly everyone in my immediate vicinity keeps clutching their pearls and I guess I'm sick of not being able to advocate for trans comrades appropriately and articulate a proper response.

So what's a better response besides, "who cares?" Am I missing something? Like, if all things were equitable, what would or should competitions look like?

Help me out. I honestly have no idea.

  • ComradeKingfisher [he/him]
    ·
    2 months ago

    Isn't there a boxer from the Philippines who's a trans guy?

    Yeah, Hergie Bacyadan. The IOC is having him compete in the women's 75kg division as he's not on T yet.

    • iridaniotter [she/her]
      ·
      2 months ago

      The Olympics has abdicated all responsibility on ensuring transgender athletes can play and instead has federations decide (please inform me if I'm mistaken with this case). The IBA does not have specific transgender regulations, but the IBA Technical Competition Rules (March 3, 2024) appears to be the most reactionary, unscientific one I've seen yet (I've looked at like a dozen sports federations). Maybe tied with World Aquatics which at least tries to cover its own transmisogynistic tracks with pseudoscience.

      “Men/Male/Boy” means an individual with chromosome XY. For this purpose, the Boxers can be submitted to a random and/or targeted gender test to confirm the above, which will serve for the gender eligibility criteria for the IBA Competitions;

      “Women/Female/Girl” means an individual with chromosome XX. For this purpose, the Boxers can be submitted to a random and/or targeted gender test to confirm the above, which will serve for the gender eligibility criteria for the IBA Competitions.

      4.2. Eligibility on Gender

      4.2.2. To determine the gender, the Boxers can be submitted to a random and/or targeted gender test which will be conducted by IBA in cooperation with the selected laboratory personnel.

      Chromosomes? Lmao. This is biology -101.