Olympic Committee admits its guidelines for transgender athletes aren’t fit for purpose

The IOC’s announcement comes as the transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard prepares to make history on Monday when she will become the first openly trans woman to compete in a solo event at an Olympic Games

Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand practices, at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Picture: AP Photo/Luca Bruno

The International Olympic Committee has admitted that its current guidelines for transgender athletes are not fit for purpose – and says it plans to release a new one within the next two months.

In a notable shift, the IOC’s medical and science director, Dr Richard Budgett, said the science had moved on – and stressed that a new framework for sports would also focus on safety as well as fairness.